Broadwood cottage piano 1886

[vernon]

Bill Kibby,
I've got a delightful piano above on e-bay. It is in a beautiful rosewood vertical veneered case BUT the whole of the back is veneered to match. Have you ever seen that before. Why would they do it?

[Bill Kibby]

Fascinating! We have a Pape which has the belly bars inside, and is veneered and polished on the back of the soundboard, but I can't recall seeing it on a Broadwood. Is the soundboard smooth, or is it covered up? I notice you don't know the date. Have you found any numbers inside, or datemarks on the top key?

[vernon]

top key date is 29/6/86 and serial no. is 62837.
Not sure what you mean by "smooth soundboard" Its just normal and there are 6 large beams down the back that are varnished!
It has two panels on the back with backing cloth. The moulding on the top goes all the way round the back so it seems as tho it could stand in the centre of a room.
There are some pics of it's giblets on ebay 200365420672
bw
btw don't forget my Drannek leaflets when you've finished with them

[Bill Kibby]

I'm confused, not that this is unusual, but you say the whole of the back is veneered, but there are two panels with cloth. I thought you meant the whole of the back area was veneered rosewood, which meant the soundboard would have to be flat on the back, like our Pape console.

[vernon]

sorry to be confusing,but as you say, that's not unusual at my age.
The edges round the two panels are veneered and polished including the rail along the bottom.
I see there is another super looking one on ebay
bw
v

[Bill Kibby]

There seems to be a French influence, not only with the idea of being able to view it all round, but also the keyboard area standing out from the front. Nevertheless, it is on the tail end of the line of the typical London Cottage Pianos, and the latest I've come across is 1887.