C.Weidig, Jena Germany

[Pianoau]

I have a lovely old piano, I've been told it's 120 years old and google doesn't really tell me anything about the numbers inside, or the brand. I'd appreciate any Information. I know lots of these end up in the bin so I know it's not worth anything and I'm fine with that. Would love to know more about its age and where it came from though :) thank you.

[Colin Nicholson]

There are two references to Weidig in my piano book, but very little information, and no serial numbers.

1. WEIDIG, C.W.. Jena, Germany 1843
2. WEIDIG, GEORGE, Est 1890, Germany at Regenburg

Yours is likely to be No. 1.... but only shows when established (1843) and country.

Numbers will be of no use, and many different kinds of numbers inside pianos cannot be traced for "unknown" piano names, some are stock numbers, which can not always be traced. Bill may have more info.

If you post a couple of pictures of the full piano here/ no stool covering pedals/ no clutter, we may be able to estimate a period. See top topic how to download an image.
Image 1: Full piano, fallboard lid open/ showing panelling, legs and pedals..
Image 2: Remove front panel/ mechanism showing strings/ frame/ full front view (not from top looking inside).

Hope that helps

[Bill Kibby]

The majority of piano names are not listed on the internet. To quote my Names page
http://www.pianohistory.info/names.html
Some folks are disappointed if their piano does not have a name on the front, but many piano names are meaningless anyway... People have come to regard the internet as the ultimate fount of knowledge, but I have OVER 80,000 piano and music names on file. The majority of them are not listed on the internet, and many are not real makers.

Because of lack of funding, my active research is aimed at antique British pianos, and I have the world's largest directory of Britiish piano firms, but without funding, I can't pursue German firms to the same degree. Also, German-sounding names are very commonly found in old pianos, and not necessarily real makers, although Weidig was established at Jena in 1843. He was still listed in 1911, but although some models look typical of the twenties, he seems to have been gone by 1928. (Georg Weidig was a separate firm, and as Colin says, established at Regensburg in 1890.) Nobody can tell you anything about an individual piano just from the name, but I can often make a quite accurate estimate of the piano’s age if you can send photos that show what the WHOLE piano looks like. There is useful general information about upright pianos at
http://www.pianohistory.info/edwardian.html

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

With a German piano, the best hope is that the action (the working parts of the notes) may be marked on the rear with the action makers’ name and number, and we may be able to date this. However, removing the action can be risky in an old piano, and you may need your tuner’s help.

[Pianoau]

Thank you I will get some photos as soon as I have a minute. On the front is painted 'Carnegie and sons' Melbourne which I believe was a piano shop. I'm grateful,for your answers, thank you.

[Pianoau]

Test

I'm having difficulty getting the required photos, the front won't drop down because one set of candle holders are in the way. And no front on pics due to the location of the piano.

Is this enough, I can try and get better photos? Thank you. :)

[Bill Kibby]

Don't worry from our point of view, but if you lift out the top door (top front panel) you may be able to use the link I gave you to look for datemarks inside. I would guess this piano was made around 1898, it is typical of the German uprights of the 1890s shown at
http://www.pianohistory.info/edwardian.html

[Colin Nicholson]

It looks like the front panel has been reclined fully forward, resting above the keys laid down?
This panel should lift out completely (slightly forward first, then lifted vertically), there will be about 3 wooden dowels locating it to the fallboard - take care you don't damage the dowels. The brass candle holders (sconces) should not be anywhere near the keyboard!

Sometimes they are stiff if the wood has warped slightly. The fallboard also lifts out, and just slots into position.
The action (mechanism) looks partly refurbished and in reasonably good condition/ recovered hammers?
I notice there have been a few string replacements, so may have tuning issues - in the long run, would be better to re-string the piano with new dampers aswell. May not be economical though, depending on use.

[Pianoau]

There won't be any refurbishment at this stage, the piano has just been tuned. It doesn't get played a lot, my daughter is the only one who plays. It did have some repair work before I bought it. I will need help to get the next photos but will
Do. Thanks for letting me know the front comes out. Made me laugh, it was impossible to get photos while holding it, and the candle holders on one side are stuck. I know nothing about pianos, clearly! It's a lovely piece though, it has personality that's for sure.

[Pianoau]

Don't worry from our point of view, but if you lift out the top door (top front panel) you may be able to use the link I gave you to look for datemarks inside. I would guess this piano was made around 1898, it is typical of the German uprights of the 1890s shown at
http://www.pianohistory.info/edwardian.html

Thanks, it sure does look very similar To those pictures. I will
Let You know what I find.

[HarpsichordBoy]

I'm super-late to the party, but for the sake of history, I once stumbled across this piano maker's grave in Jena, located here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alter ... 822454,18z.

[Dieter]

https://www.dieter-gocht.de/?page_id=2312