Harper Piano Co Ltd

[PhilipK]

I wonder whether anybody can help me with a history / valuation on the following.

I have a small ivory white upright piano 61 keys, 36 white & 25 black.

It has Harper Piano Co Ltd in gold lettering on the underside of the keyboard lid and under the top lid has the number H25194

Under the top lid is also a sticker that reads: The "Harper" Piano and below that Harpers Ltd Holloway Rd London N

I believe that this is a yacht piano and is reputed to have come from the Baskerville's family yacht, although I suspect that that is hearsay.

Many thanks for any information that you might be able to impart.

[Bill Kibby]

The Harper Piano Co. had a fancy trademark consisting of a piano and a harp, apparently just a play on the name, they are not thought to have made harps. By 1911, they were known as the Harper Electric Piano Co. Ltd., Holloway, referring of course to electrically- powered player pianos, rather than what we know today as "electric pianos". Some were made by the wholesalers Brasted Brothers, but don't seem to have their serial number sequence. There were lots of five-octave uprights a century ago, but a yacht piano would have a fold-away keyboard. H25194 may refer to Harper, but it could also be a Harrods stock number, suggesting that it was sold secondhand around 1926.

[PhilipK]

Thanks for the info - does this mean that it is likely to be pre-1911 and also would you have any idea as to likely value? It is quite a nice piece, but we are thinking of moving soon and don't know whether to take it with us or sell beforehand - if we were to decide to sell, should we put it in an auction or sell it somewhere else. Again, any guidance would be much appreciated. Philip Ketteringham

[Bill Kibby]

Nobody can begin to guess the value or condition without on-the-spot inspection. I don't buy or sell pianos, so I can't help you. Why not give Gill Green a call in Marlow if you need it tuned.