J. Becker grand piano

[pjmann]

Hi,
I would like to have a confirmation or estimate concerning the age of my J .Becker grand piano (about 2 meters in length). I have not been able to find any trustworthy information from the Internet regarding J. Becker grand pianos. I was very happy to find this forum, and I have read to other topic concerning J. Becker grand piano, which actually lead me to this forum. I have to say that I'm not any professional in music, but I have studied piano as I was a teenager and played since my grand piano for my own amusement. I also have to apologize my inadequate vocabulary, because I live in Finland and my home language is Finnish.

I have inherited the instrument from my grandmother many years ago. She bought it in the 1970's from a small second hand shop in Helsinki. Unfortunately, I don't have any further information about the ownership history of the instrument. The strings of my J. Becker have been changed, and also the sound board and the tuning mechanism (or whatever it is called) have been repaired by a professional in 1995 ( I still have the receipt). This person told me that the instrument was manufactured in the1870's at St. Petersburg. Is this true? Is there a way to track the actual age?

One thing , which bothers me quite much, is the value of the instrument. I have been in contact to couple of piano selling or related companies, and they have told me that my J. Becker is poorly manufactured and it has small or no value. Is this the fact? I know that many things are a matter of taste, but everything has a baseline. I was able to dig out an expired notice from the Internet, which was concerning a J .Becker for sale in Finland. It was claimed to be from the 1870's. However, I found two clear differences between my J. Becker and the other: in my instrument the is number 7838 below the big symbol on the sound board (see attached picture) whereas the other instrument had no number, in addition the music stand in my instrument is very decorative whereas in the other instrument it is more like a plain plate. This made me wonder, which of these two instrument is the older one.

I know that the following not necessarily belong to this section of the forum and I'm sorry about it, but I still need some further advise. After my hand injury I haven't been able to play anymore, and in addition I'm moving into a new apartment. Therefore, it's time to give up the instrument, although I'm not feeling very happy about it. The question is that is the instrument ready to a junkyard or should I try to sell it to someone. The price of the other instrument for sale was 1 200 €. The price of my J. Becker was estimated much higher by the person who changed the strings etc.. I'm not asking the price estimate, but I'm kindly asking advise to find a reliable source where I could have an estimated value of my J. Becker. Somehow, I don't have a good feeling about the companies I have been in contact. Maybe I haven't found the right ones or maybe they are not simply intrested in the matter because they have storage rooms full of used instruments.

Thank you for reading my post.

[Bill Kibby]

Nobody can value the piano without seeing it. I am sorry we have no contacts in the states to offer, I can only suggest auction houses.

[pjmann]

Thank you for you reply. I realize and agree that nobody can value the piano without seeing it. I just have to keep on trying to find the proper contacts, which are interest to come and see the piano, and maybe I'll be lucky enough to find out the real age of the instrument.

[Bill Kibby]

If you email photos of the whole piano and interior to me, I may be able to estimate the age.

[pjmann]

Thank you for your kindness. I indeed have some photos of the piano, but I have to take one also from the mechanism. I will email them as soon as I have taken the missing one.

[Bill Kibby]

It would also be helpful to know what information is shown in the area of your photo of the soundboard, especially dates. I had a telephone enquiry about a Russian J. Becker grand piano with a "tenuous Elgar connection", but no details have arrived yet.

[Finland_tuner]

I Have the data base of Russian pianomakers and serial numbers of Russian pianos.

I know the real age of this instrument. It is 1867

[krzywymarian]

Hello!
I have the same problem like pjmann.
I have vertical piano J.Becker and i would know how old is it.
Can somebody help my?
serial no. 27473

[Colin Nicholson]

If the numbers you give are correct, (27473) - the year suggests around 1901, but cant say for definite unless we see these numbers downloaded (like the other piano). Some numbers on pianos look like serial numbers, but are sometimes cabinet/ stock numbers and these dont relate to a year. Also a photo of the piano would help incase the numbers are the latter.

[ephilipdavis]

Serial number on frame

Dear Forum members, I am pastor of a church in South East London and we have a Becker grand piano, seeing your discussion I wonder if anyone can give us an age for our piano, especially whether it is Tsarist or Soviet era which I understand impinges on quality. There is a serial number 10148 stamped on the frame see photo, but not any number painted under the imperial emblem, unlike the piano discussed earlier. best regards, Rev Philip Davis, Penge Baptist Church

[Colin Nicholson]

Welcome to the forum......

According to my piano guide book - if your piano was originally built & founded in Russia [ and not the USA] - this may be a piano from the original founder of Jacob Becker - established in 1841 of Petersburg USSR. There are only a few serial numbers published -
#10009 = 1880 being the last serial number

estimated at around 1880 - 1882. It certainly looks an early grand with the square tapered side - would be good to see the legs? are they square octagonal in shape?

Bill may be able to elaborate further........

[ephilipdavis]

Side view of piano

Thanks, here is a side view.

Philip Davis

[Bill Kibby]

I feel it should be nearer to 1898, but I have no evidence for that. The strange hexagonal legs do not seem appropriate or original for the piano. I can't recall ever seeing legs like them on any piano. If anything, they seem more likely for Art Deco.

[ephilipdavis]

Thanks for the comments. Maybe the photo does not show the legs right, in fact they are square but offset so that they form a diamond on the base of the piano. Would more photos be useful? best regards, Philip Davis

[Bill Kibby]

I wonder if Finland_tuner could enlighten us about Becker number dates?

That 1867 one seems much too early, and you can see examples of Bechstein and Bluthner interiors for 1867 on my Grand page at
http://www.pianohistory.info/

[Finland_tuner]

I wonder if Finland_tuner could enlighten us about Becker number dates?

Hi...

J.Becker`s serial numbers in the piano guide book aren`t correct.

This is the correct dating:
#10148 - 1889
#27473 - 1911

[Finland_tuner]

I know the real age of this instrument. It is 1867

It was my mistake.

#7838 - c.1883-1884

[Finland_tuner]

I feel it should be nearer to 1898, but I have no evidence for that. The strange hexagonal legs do not seem appropriate or original for the piano. I can't recall ever seeing legs like them on any piano. If anything, they seem more likely for Art Deco.

In the photo are original Becker piano`s legs

[jkikavalko]

I live in Finland. I bought one from a 80-90 year old lady, who remembered, that her father bought it.

The grand piano is white, and it has golden stripes. The serial number is 11155.

What year was it made? I remember the lady saying 18**.

[jkikavalko]

Sorry about you not finding the picture. I posted also some new ones. The pictures are

http://aijaa.com/meO4wB
http://aijaa.com/vcM8lI
http://aijaa.com/qeB7fe
http://aijaa.com/5rbP1d

The whole picture:
http://aijaa.com/74YLBY

[Bill Kibby]

None of your pictures show me what the whole piano looks like, and all I can say from the number is that it was probably made shortly after 1890.

[vernon]

The legs have obviously been replaced by square legs that have gone on crooked and not been properly shimmed up..
Wonder what happened to the original legs.

[Ralucaalexandra1234]

Hello.i need your help.i've bought a fost and along with it this pus in j becker.but unfortunately i dont know how to play on it.so i want ti sell it.but i dont know where neither it s value.its serial number 27777.can you please help.me?

[Bill Kibby]

I'm sorry, you need to edit your post and correct the spelling, so we can understand what you are talking about. Nobody anywhere can guess the value or condition of a piano without inspecting it on the spot, and checking how well it holds in tune, so your local tuner is the best person to ask.

With all those pictures, you don't show us what the whole piano looks like.

[ANIKHELADZE]

I also have Becker grand piano, with serial number 17566. It belonged to my great-grandmother, so we know it is very old but have no idea exactly how old it can be. Please help me if you are aware of it. Thank you in advance.

[Bill Kibby]

All I can say is that based on my estimates of the dates of other Becker pianos, it might be around 1899.

[SXR]

Any information on this?

[Bill Kibby]

I realise this is not a grand, but is it a Becker? If not, you should post it again as a NEW TOPIC or you won't get much response. Please tell us any names and information you can find, and also have a look at
http://www.pianohistory.info/datemarks.html

[DanielPro]

Hello, I'm really glad I found this forum; I couldn't find relevant details anywhere else. I have a J. Becker grand piano with the serial number 16679. Do you know how much it's worth or from what period it was manufactured? From what I know, I believe it's made in Russia, but I don't have more details. Thank you in advance, and I hope you have a great day!

[chrisw]

Judging from the design of the case , the serial number and what little information I have about Becker pianos I would guess the year of manufacture somewhere between 1880-85.
Also very little in the way of value.