Late of John Brinsmead & Sons Showroom

Michele E · Post by **Michele E** » 15 Jul 2005, 13:23

My piano, given to me by my grandmother in London, I believe is over 100 years old. The plaque on the inside of the keyboard lid states "Late of John Brinsmead & Sons Showroom. As Fine Tuner, Toner and Regulator, Robert Lucas, 108 Manor Place, Walworth, SE London"
Underneath another plaque states "Upright Iron Grand". Inside the top lid there is a number 2690.
So from these details would the piano be a John Brinmead piano and tuned by Robert Lucas? I would assume that Robert Lucas worked at John Brinsmead & Sons early 20th century? Is there any information recorded about Robert Lucas? Did he just tune this piano, or did he make this piano as well? Any information about my piano would be very interesting and welcome.
Thanks alot!

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 15 Jul 2005, 18:09

This not a Brinsmead piano, I'll see what I can find about Lucas.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 15 Jul 2005, 22:47

Lucas doesn't seem to have been listed in his own right as a maker or tuner, and the best available clue (without seeing it) is the SE address, which suggests a period of about 60 years up to 1917! He could be the Lucas who was partnered with Robert Addison around 1851-1867, but I don't know yet. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/reports.html

Michele E · Post by **Michele E** » 15 Jul 2005, 23:18

Hello Bill,
Thanks for much for your very prompt response.
Thanks for the information via the URL. I don't have a digital camera or know how to pay by BPAL. HOwever, I would like to take some photos of my piano to send you with a GB Pound cheque for 20.00 (I still have a UK bank account!). I am very interested to know when and where the piano was made if possible. I have had it tuned last year and the tuner told me it can't be tuned very well now and would need alot of money spent restoring it. It's a nice piece of furniture and at least looks good in the room, although I don't play much now. So, this is not for valuation but for my own interest. Unfortunately the usual story - we don't think about asking about historical information from people until too late, and it's only now I am interested and sadly I don't have any relatives left who would know anything about the piano's origins.
So, could you tell me where I should send the photos and my cheque?
Thanks so much, and a great website and so much work to get so much information collated!
Kind regards
Michele

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 16 Jul 2005, 09:53

All this is dealt with on my PianoGen website, which is a separate section under the wing of the UK Piano site. The link I gave you had everything you want to know, just by pressing the buttons on the left, or you can try this one...
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/contact-us.html