Metzler & Co Ld Upright Piano

[frebesp]

Hello,

Could you help me figure out how old my piano is and any history you might know about it? Under the top lid I found the numbers 15426. On the front are two brass candle holders and a wood inlayed floral pattern. I have pictures but was not able to add them to this post.

Thanks in advance for your help
Pat

[frebesp]

Ok I see that I needed to repost to add my pictures.
Thanks Again
Pat

[frebesp]

2 more pictures

Thanks again

[Bill Kibby]

I have no firm dates for Metzler numbers, but, judging by its appearance, the piano was probably made around 1890, around the time when Brooks & Co. became Brooks Ltd.

[frebesp]

Hi Bill,

Thank you for that information. Would you happen to know what type of wood it is made of and where the piano was built?

Pat

[Bill Kibby]

With the dark-polished pianos of this era, if you strip the polish off, it often reveals that a lot of areas are fake grain, and the outer structure often has a number of different types of wood. I am not a wood expert, so I don't know if they were aiming for rosewood or something, but it does't look natural.
Valentine Metzler established his London business in 1788, but he was not a piano maker, he was a retailer of music and musical instruments, and it is quite possible that (like so many others) he bought in the pianos from anonymous wholesalers, and applied his name to them.
Some had German actions, and it is not clear whether they just imported the actions, as some London firms did, or whether some of the pianos were actually German. Some are marked "Metzler, Berlin". Have a look at
http://www.pianohistory.info/datemarks.html

[frebesp]

Thanks again Bill I will research these links some more.