Harper & Eavestaff questions

[Gill the Piano]

A London built Harper, no 5099 and an Eavestaff number 71013. Can find nothing in Pierce's...can you help please, Bill?

[Bill Kibby]

Eavestaff numbers are a nightmare, there are several sequences, and if the keys are not dated, I can only suggest that it might be Brasted 1932-ish, is it a Mini? Or it could be 1940 !! There will soon be a more complete set pf Eavestaff numbers at
http://www.pianohistory.info/numbers.html

WHICH HARPER?
There have been a number of piano and music firms named Harper, including...
HARPER & CASTLE
HARPER & Co., Newmarket
HARPER & DAVIES, LIVERPOOL
HARPER & SMITH
HARPER (Edwin)
HARPER (Geoffrey) Wimbledon
HARPER (Thomas W.) Hornsey
HARPER (William) London
HARPER ALLEN, Banbury
HARPER Brothers, Brighton, Sussex
HARPER Electric Piano Co. Ltd., Holloway
HARPER Iron Foundry
HARPER Piano Co. Ltd., Holloway, London
HARPER, Bury St.Edmunds, Suffolk
HARPER, Wolverton

The following piano or music firms were all in business in 1928:
HARPER (A.C.) & Co., SEREMHAM
HARPER (C.E.) SIDNEY
HARPER (CHARLES) & Co., PENRITH & BERTH
HARPER (D.) & Co., LONDON
HARPER (F.W.) DELANO
HARPER (G.) LIVERPOOL
HARPER (G.H.) ORANGE & UTTOXETER
HARPER (J.E.) HOT SPRINGS
HARPER (J.G.) & Co., LETHBRIDGE
HARPER MUSIC SHOP, DETROIT
HARPER (N.) JUNAH
HARPER PIANO Co., LONDON
HARPER'S MUSIC SALONS, BURY St. EDMUNDS, ELY & NEWMARKET
HARPER (THOMAS) LONDON
HARPER (W.J.) CALAIS
HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK

[Gill the Piano]

Sorry, should have said: Holloway London for the Harper, and the Eavestaff is a tall upright which looks 1920s (oval panel, no marquetry and no sconces/sconce holes).

[Bill Kibby]

I am still wrestling with Eavestaff, but as for Harper, by 1911 they were known as the Harper Electric Piano Co. Ltd., Holloway, referring of course to player pianos operated by electric blowers, rather than pedalling bellows. These were invented by Percy Harper, and a lot of their history may be found on the internet. (Certainly not electric pianos as we known them now.)

Circa 1915 #3700
Circa 1920 #5000 has the "London N" address with no suffix number, which suggests that the transfer was made before 1918, but the piano may be later...
1928 #5266 The action was made by Malcolm, and is dated by the Malcolm number on the rear of the action.

Some were made by the wholesalers Brasted Brothers, but don't have the same serial number sequence.

[Bill Kibby]

I have now placed a very complicated set of numbers for various Eavestaff pianos at
http://www.pianohistory.info/numbers.html
but although the facts are accurate, don't assume that this will make your life easier!

#71013 could be around 1929... or not!

[Gill the Piano]

Thanks Bill - you're a wonder!