Dunham piano

[crabbybud]

I have a Dunham piano and would like to know more about it. It looks like a rectangle table, one side opens up to reveal the keys. Ive never seen anything like it. Some of the keys dont work, and I was wondering if it would be worth restoring. If not, I may remove the insides, it may make a good bar table.

thanks,
Bud

[Bill Kibby]

I take you are talking about a square piano, which is like a rectangular table with the keyboard set into the longer side? A Dunham square piano could be almost two hundred years old, can you give me more detail, such as the exact wording on the piano? There were several firms called Dunham.

[arcticfox]

I noticed your posting re Dunham Piano and thought that I would add this information from a different source; We have a Dunham piano that can be described in the same manner as you have posted. Our piano has 43 white keys and 30 black keys, Someone told me that these werte called parlor grands,(?) It has the nameplate of Dunham, and in very small writing, New York. This has been in my wife's family since 1887, On the inside of the nameplate board, each tuner and owner has signed and dated their invovlement. We had it totally rebuilt and refinished in 1988. It is tuned twice a year and we thoroughly enjoy the music and the beautiful inlaid rosewood and other fine woods. Just as a further descriptor, each leg weighs about 45 lbs.

[Bill Kibby]

Sizes of grands have been given many different names, and there was no precise definition or standardisation, but "Parlor Grand" is a common one in the USA for a grand piano of suitable size for a parlor. The one we were discussing is a square piano. Is yours rectangular? And can you tell me how you know it was 1887, or whether it was new then?

[arcticfox]

Thank you for the reply. Here is more info on the piano. There are signatures of Tuners and Owners on the back of the board that can be removed right behind the keyboard. The earliest is dated 1887. We know that my wife's grandmother received it as a wedding gift from her guardian. The grandmother who was born in 1887, came from England as an orphan child and was adopted by the Hannah Family.
The piano is rectangular. We know from family history that it was used before 1887 and was purchased by the Hannah's. We don't know when. We are trying to establish the time that it was built. It is 71 inches long and approx. 32 1/2 inches wide, and stands 36 inches high. I will try to get a good digital photo of it and post it.
Dennis

[Bill Kibby]

It would help if you email it rather post it on the net. Also the complete, exact wording on the piano is important.