Paul Roland upright piano

[Rockhopper]

Hi - can anybody help me with information about an upright Paul Roland piano? I have found one and been to look at it. The surface of the case is very rough and it needs a major overhaul.

It appears to have an iron frame.

There is a number stamped on the lefthand side casetop - 83852
And a name on the righthand side casetop - W Whiteley Ltd (shop?)

The keys need a full overhaul and the leathers probably too. The keys that work seem to be very heavily weighted (or it may just be the dust inside!).

I would be very grateful for swift responses, please!

Thanks in advance....

[Bill Kibby]

I haven't got any details ready on computer about the name, but I can find no record of a real maker by this name. I think this was an alias that Whiteleys' department store used on pianos they bought in from anonymous wholesalers, along with "Carlberg". Your piano appears to be from about 1920. You can see a number of them on google images.

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

Nobody anywhere can guess the value or condition withut inspecting it on the spot and tuning it, so your local tuner is the best person to ask. I can only add that it safer to spend your money which works and sounds as you want it to, rather than guess what it might be like when overhauled.

[Rockhopper]

Thanks Bill!

[Colin Nicholson]

One of the most common causes of heavy/ sluggish keys is DAMP. Damp spells rust and corrosion.
This can cause the 'action' overall to slow down/ stick / not work.
I noticed on one photo (the one with numbers punched) - the large damper rail screw, held in place with a domed wooden washer.... is very rusty indeed, so there may be underlying problems elsewhere inside the piano.
Tuning may also be risky.... so you may need a slightly deeper pocket than expected!

Colin

[Rockhopper]

Thanks Colin - I was looking at it for a friend and advised them yesterday that I thought that it may be more realistic to buy a decent secondhand upright rather than starting on the road of renovating this one!

[KevinBull]

This is probably a stencil piano. There is no such company in the catalogs. when you ask these questions about old pianos or any piano, always send a photo so i can see it. that makes all the difference.

[Bill Kibby]

I think I already said that?

Which catalogues do you mean? I have over forty thousand piano names on file, more than any catalogue I know of, and the "Paul Roland" pianos almost always come from Whiteleys.

[NewAge]

This is probably a stencil piano. There is no such company in the catalogs. when you ask these questions about old pianos or any piano, always send a photo so i can see it. that makes all the difference.

Uh.....I believe that was a photo of a piano in the original post #1 above, unless my eyes are deceiving me.....

[Taylorclan5]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... tory_share

One for sale on Facebook market place today for £40 :-)