Ajello piano

[sueshephard]

I recently bought an upright Ajello piano No 42324 built around the 1970s. It is overstrung underdamped and has Schwander (action?) stamped on it. The bodywork is very solid and looks like a Kemble. I understand Ajello from Manchester ceased production a long time ago. I would like to know where this piano was made and by which company. I have tried searching the internet so far without success. Can anyone help please. Thanks. Sue

[Colin Nicholson]

Hi Sue,
According to my records in the Pierce Piano Atlas book, Ajello & Sons were a company in their own right, based at:
Leestone Road, Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK. (Est. 1862)
The action makers Schwander were a separate company who provided mechanisms for Ajello and other makers.

If the serial number is correct (according to how it is executed and correctly located on the piano/ font type etc) would suggest an earlier build date of around 1949 - 1950. Can only be confirmed by seeing a photo.
The serial number lists stopped in 1960 - #225660

The company also made the small "Michelle" and "Minette" piano

Bill may be able to expand on that.

Colin

[Gill the Piano]

They made (or at least had their names !) on player pianos too.

[sueshephard]

Hi colin. Thanks for this. However I am pretty sure this piano is later than 1960 its appearance is similar to many of 1970s such as Kemble etc. One pos clue is that the keys are not ivory. I would like to send a couple of photos but cant work out how to upload them to this site. Can anyone help please. Thank Sue

[Bill Kibby]

With the Ajello name, there are 3 main options.

1). The published dates of serial numbers are for the Manchester firm.

2). Guiliano Ajello was a London maker a century ago.

3). Some of the mysteries of piano names are discussed at
http://www.pianohistory.info/names.html
On that page, I explain how firms like Cramer and Kemble took over many of the old piano names. Kembles made the modern "Ajello" pianos, but they told me their archives were lost in a fire.

If you want to search inside the piano for clues, have a look at
http://www.pianohistory.info/datemarks.html
It is usually very easy and quick to find the key-frame label in a modern Kemble or similar, and this may tell you the make or model. Unfortunately, most pianos have several numbers inside, and the most likely answer is a number preceded by K, inside the piano at keyboard level, on the left.

If you find it difficult to post photos here, you can just email them to me, and I will post them. Artificial key covering materials have been around since the 1860s, as explained at
http://www.pianohistory.info/miscellaneous.html

[vernon]

We used to buy Ajellos from Ajello in Manchester in the 1950-60s
I remember them as very good