William James Ltd Gold Medal Pianos

[GrandLemon]

Hello,
I have recently come into possession of a William James Ltd, 'Gold Medal Piano' it is in relatively good condition but can do with a little TLC aesthetically. I plan to restore the piano myself but would like to know the history before I dive in. After a little investigative work I can discern a faint makers mark that can only read William James Ltd, I have tried to search online but cannot find anything concreate on the history.

Does anyone have any information on the Maker above/ where I could find information??

Thank you

[Bill Kibby]

Being a William James myself, I am sure I would have noticed this name, but I will have a look through my files. However, to save me going through over a million entries manually, I need some clue as to what it looks like, or how old it is. Are you able to post photos here to show what the whole piano looks like?

[Bill Kibby]

James is a very common surname, so it is not surprising that there have been a number of piano firms with that name, but I have not yet found William James Ltd..
The word "limited" was not usually shortened to Ltd. before 1900.
I have been unable to find him in London lists or national lists so far, so I have very little chance of finding him without more information about the piano.

[Bill Kibby]

There was a William James in London...
1875 Not listed in the Post Office London Directory as a Pianoforte Maker.
1880 William James, Pianoforte maker, 26 City Road EC.
1882 William James, Pianoforte maker, 64 Bread Street.
1884 William James, Pianoforte maker, 120 Fulham Road SW.
1886 Not listed.
He does not appear as a Ltd. company, but there are other pianos labelled the same as yours, probably following on from the same firm, but I have found no details yet.
If you want to search for clues inside the piano have a look at
http://www.pianohistory.info/datemarks.html

[GrandLemon]

Hi Bill, thank you very much for all of that, I will take some extensive pictures of the piano and post them on here for you to see, I'll have a look at that link you have sent before I take the pictures to see what I can find. Thank you again!

[GrandLemon]

Hi Bill, please see attached images of the piano in question, do they shed any further light? Kind regards

[GrandLemon]

More images attached

[GrandLemon]

Last of the images I could get.

[Bill Kibby]

Thanks for the photos, it appears to be a typical Edwardian upright, so probably 1900-1910.
There was a London maker in the late 1800s named William James, but not limited.
1884 William James, Pianoforte maker, 120 Fulham Road SW.
By 1894 he is not listed, but after a gap of a few years, there seems to have been William James Ltd., and I have heard from several owners, but I am still looking for details.

[Bill Kibby]

Around that time, London makers often bought in actions from German makers, until the 1914 war. Yours appears to be a German action, and if your tuner feels it is safe to pull out the action, it may be marked on the back with the action makers' name and number, and I may be able to date this. Have you looked at...
http://www.pianohistory.info/datemarks.html