Hayes London

ueller · Post by **ueller** » 15 Jan 2006, 12:04

Hi!
Does anyone know anything about the piano maker Hayes London? Searching the Internet has not helped me at all...

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 15 Jan 2006, 18:06

I have nothing ready on computer, so it probably isn't a real factory name, but I'll see what I can find on card and paper files. Is there any other information at all on the piano? See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/datem ... ianos.html

ueller · Post by **ueller** » 16 Jan 2006, 10:23

Prompted by your reply I opened up the piano and found the following information.
The mahogany casing has the name HAYES LONDON in golden letters on the front and also has a number on the inside (159061).
The inside mechanism says it was manufactured by Herrburger Brooks Ltd, London. The iron frame also says British made, it bears a crown and cites a number of patents.
The bottom key also tells you it was made by Herrburger Brooks Ltd, Long Eaton. On the side it is stamped in ink IVOETTE (I think) plus some illegible information. Engraved is the number 76286. Some people have inspected the keys or tuned the piano as obvious by the signatures JM, AK, and JH.
I have not been able to have a look at the back of the iron frame, but hopefully the information above will tell you enough.
Many thanks for your efforts!

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 16 Jan 2006, 12:46

Herrburger (Paris) and Brooks (London) merged in 1920, so your piano is no earlier than that. The patents on the iron frame may end with 2 digits of a year. The PUBLIC RECORDS OFFICE website list items about the Hayes Piano Manufacturing Company Ltd., and they do not appear in our files of the twenties, but were at Hermitage Road N4 in 1938. I have no details yet, and it may not be the same firm as your piano. Examples on our files with "British Manufacture" on the frame are mainly found the twenties.

ueller · Post by **ueller** » 16 Jan 2006, 17:18

Hi again!
The piano was bought in the 1950's in Sweden, so I doubt it would have been made much earlier...