Peter Maxwell & Son

[Jbttulip@comcast.net]

I have an upright piano that says this under the key cover.

Peter Maxwell & Son
Glasgow

Wondering if there is anyone that can tell me where to find the serial number and how to get to the serial number to see it. Wondering if there is a way to trace it and date it. I live in Housron, Texas, USA. Wondering if there is anyone in Houston that could or would fix it up for me to use.

Thank You, Jolene Tittsworth

[Bill Kibby]

Peter Maxwell was a retailer who had previously worked for Broadwoods. He was in business by the 1880s, and by 1894, the firm was Peter Maxwell & Son. They seem to have gone by 1914, so your piano may be somewhere near 1904. See
http://pianohistory.info/edwardian.html

We have no evidence that they made pianos, they probably bought them in from wholesalers and applied their own name. Otherwise, they sold pianos made by other firms "Manufactured expressly" for Maxwell. Serial numbers can usually be found inside the top, but they won't help you with Maxwell.

If you want to search for clues inside the piano, see
http://pianohistory.info/datemarks.html

As for Houston, I'm sorry I can't help you, but I have to say that a lot of American tuners are not equipped for old British pianos.

[Jbttulip@comcast.net]

Thank you for your information and website links. This is interesting and helpful.

Will go on the search for someone in Houston that has piqued interest and is up for the challenge. Thank you again!

[zaxa]

Useful information. Thanks