Rough age of H.Squire piano

[Adriene]

Dear Bill,

I've been trying to find some more details about an upright piano I was given about 10 years ago. It takes up a lot of room in the lounge and the 'oldies' want me to pass it on. I cant really agrue as I dont play.

The piano has the wording H.Squire & Co London, inside the lid are printing 1885 (possiblly i885) and J Gowland (possibly S Gowland). The only other mark I can find is 885 on the back on the bottom cover.

Having looked at your website can I assume that the piano was made by Gowland and sold by Squires? If so roughly what period do you think it was made?

I've not been able to find any information on the world wide web about H.Squire - are they the same as Squire & Longsman?

Kind regards,
Adriene

[Colin Nicholson]

The piano manufacturers will be SQUIRE & LONGSON.... originally owned by Kemble. All other names on the piano will just be trade names/ agents etc who sold the piano. Gowland didnt make pianos - maybe again a trade name.

Remove the front board completely (with music rest attached), and inside should be a serial number...... however I think that the numbers are not reliable.

Send a couple of images of your piano (one per post) and we may be able to date it roughly for you...... however, I dont think the age will affect the price much if you are selling it.... depends on its condition.

Is the piano in a rest home for the elderly???

[Bill Kibby]

There were several piano makers named Squire, some of whom were established in the same year as, but remained quite separate from, Squire & Longson. They were not originally owned by Kemble, that was later.

Henry Squire was in business from at least the 1860s to the 1880s, but H. Squire & Co. was later, mainly 1930s. There were several members of the Gowland family whose names appeared inside pianos, some of them working for the Hopkinson factory. Without photos, we have no idea what your piano is like.

It is quite common for the last 3 digits of the serial number to appear on removable parts, so 1885 is probably the serial number.