Arthur Allison & Co. London Upright

[Brianna]

Hi,

I am looking for more information on the age and any available history on an Arthur Allison & Co. London upright piano sold by Cramer, Wood & Co.

There are two numbers imprinted inside the piano: 17970, which I believe is the serial number and CB4367 which from my research seems to be a seller number (but I may be wrong on both counts). There is a unique-looking carving of Greek muses on the front of the instrument and I would like to learn more about the history and age of the piano as I have next to no information on it to date. I do know that is was built at least in 1885 due to a prize medal sticker inside the lid for the "International Inventions Exhibition 1885."

Thank you in advance for your help,
Brianna

[Bill Kibby]

You are quite right in saying it would be after the 1885 exhibition as explained at
http://www.pianohistory.info/exhibition.html

but I wouldn't think is much later, maybe a year or 2. I have no definite dates for Allison numbers quite that early. Some are listed at
http://www.pianohistory.info/numbers.html
but the 1883 estimate is obviously wrong!

People often get over-excited by very ordinary inlays and decorative work on pianos, but this one is certainly quite unusual. Is it really a carving, or a painting?

It's strange that Cramer, Wood & Co. have a stock number beginning CB, unless it connects with Cramer, Beale & Co in London.

If you want to search inside the piano for clues, have a look at
http://www.pianohistory.info/datemarks.html

[Colin Nicholson]

I don't think the Greek painting/ art work is related to the piano in any way. I quite often see very decorative artwork - but added later. If you remove the front panel (2 X wooden turnbuckles at each end, turn them to 12 o'clock), this may reveal either the original panel pins, nails or small screws. If the piano was fitted with sconces, it may also show the original screw holes where the brackets once were.

I tuned a 1900s piano last week, completely covered in a montage of mirror mosaic tiles!!

[Bill Kibby]

I think you're right Colin, that degree of decoration would not be just in the one panel, there would usually be other decorative work elsewhere to complement it. Probably someone came across this panel and decided it would look good on the piano!

[vernon]

I've a customer that did up his old Weber player.
He wanted it tuned as it was now excellent. The painting cost him £3000 alone he said. And I believe him!
The whole joanna was covered in idyllic pastoral scenes-- nymphs and shepherds , trees,glades et al with just a small brown square saying "Weber"