Joseph Sclettar & Co. Square Piano?

[eragar]

My Brother just purchased a Grand Square Piano Fortes which has a tag on it that says;

Selettar and Co.
Grand Square Piano Fortes
48 Wells Creek Oxford Street
London.

I have searched all over the Internet to no avail for the company. Is the company just the name of the Dealer or music store? Does anyone have any info or give me any help on getting additional markings and/or information?

Thank you,
eragar

[Bill Kibby]

I have it on my files as Sclettar, Wells Street. His ads said grand AND square pianofortes. I couldn't find him in the London directories for 1797 or 1805, although he was in business by 1803, but he is listed in 1808, 1811 and 1814. The partnership with William Forrest was dissolved in 1811, Joseph Sclettar continued on his own at least until 1816, but does not appear in 1817 or 1819.

It seems likely that your piano dates to somewhere near 1809. Have a look at my page at
http://pianohistory.info/square.html
and try to pick out the features that apply to your piano, so that we can get an idea what it is like. Would you be able to post photos here to show us what it looks like, or email them to me?

In view of the short period of business, it seems likely that he was a retailer rather than a maker, but I have no information about who would have made it, so any clues you can find inside would be interesting.

[Bill Kibby]

Your message suggested it was a "Grand Square" but now I don't know if it just said "Grand & Square Pianofortes" and it may be a grand. What shape is it?

There are images of his ads, but you have to pay!
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.u ... h=sclettar

[Bill Kibby]

It is so unusual to come across a Sclettar piano, I would be grateful if you could let me have some information for my files.

Is it possible that you could post photos of it here, or email them to me?

If not, can you at least tell me what sort of piano it is. Is it a grand, or a SQUARE PIANO, like a rectangular table with a keyboard let into the longer side?

[Bill Kibby]

?