Stahl Baby Grand

[gwoody]

I have a STAHL baby Grand serial number 54220 and want to know it's age and history if possible. It needs some work and I wonder if it's worth repair.

[Bill Kibby]

Despite the impression of being a german name, Stahl seems to be just one of several used on pianos manufactured for W.H.Barnes, London retailers, by anonymous wholesalers. Some have Barnes' stock numbers beginning with P for piano. Some have the mysterious Registered Design Number 704198 on the frame, which appears on various makes around 1924 to 1934. Stahl pianos don't all seem to conform to one series of numbers, suggesting that they may have been made for Barnes by different wholesale factories. I can't tell if it's worth repair, your tuner will have to answer that.

[gwoody]

I also found a number cast into the frame - Reg No. 735494 and the action is by HERRBIRGER & BROOKS LTD. Will that data aid in determination of the age of the piano?

[gwoody]

The action is by HERRBURGER & BROOKS LTD.

[Bill Kibby]

Sorry to make a minor correction to your correction, Herrburger merged with Brooks in 1920, so your piano is no earlier than that. The registered design number 735494 is known to have been used by Monington & Weston around 1937, so they may have made the piano, in which case the number would suggest 1934.