Ages of 2 Eavestaff minipianos

[MartinA]

Dear Piano Experts, I have two Eavestaff minipianos, one black and one oak veneered - both with chrome stripes. The black one had been badly repainted and it is currently in bits as I strip it and repaint it to (I hope) a better standard. It would be interesting to know their years of manufacture. There are numerous small differences between the two, suggesting the oak one is later than the black one. The black minipiano has the number 25 stamped into the woodwork. It also has a label glued to the key board assembly with a date 16/7/34 and a number 60762. The same number is stamped into the hidden part of one of the keys. Is August 1934 its year of manufacture? Is the "25" be its serial number? The oak minipiano has the number 2495 stamped into the soundboard alongside the tuning pegs. Does this allow its age to be pinned down? Many thanks for your help. Martin A

[Bill Kibby]

The date on the keyframe label shows when the keys were completed, and may be a year or so earlier than the finishing of the piano. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/datem ... ianos.html

Key makers' numbers are interesting to us, but not usually dateable. If this is the original back-action mini, it was only introduced in 1934, so 25 may well be the serial number, suggesting 1934. The oak one's soundboard number 2495 does not fit in with my information so far, but if the piano is a back-action mini with a tuning flap under the keyboard, the number should be at the left inside that flap, and 2495 would suggests about 1936. The published dates of serial numbers for Eavestaff pianos don't even begin until 1950, the earlier ones being lost in a fire, but by collecting a few estimated dates of their earlier pianos, I can also offer some guide to the period between. Some of these pianos have actions made by Schwander, and these have their own numbers which can also be dated. I would be grateful for any further information which can tie together Eavestaff and Schwander numbers.

[MartinA]

Many thanks indeed for the information.

I had thought that the black one was probably the earlier one, because the oak one has several improvements [note names embossed alongside the tuning pegs; chrome strips more robustly attached; kick plate around pedals; thicker plywood in load bearing side panels]. Also the black one has just one patent number (377641) while the oak one has several patent numbers and several "registered design" numbers too.

The oak minipiano is indeed a back-action mini with a tuning flap under the keyboard and the number 2495 is indeed at the left inside that flap. (The black one has no number in that position but it does have the "25" stamped on at least two of its wooden parts.)

Incidentally, one of these pianos will fit comfortably in the back of a Volvo 940, lying one its back between the wheel arches.

Many thanks again.
Martin