Rosewood Piano

[MonicaLea]

Hi Bill,

I have just purchased a rosewood piano, mint condition, ivory keys built supposedly in 1872. There are several unusual stamps on the inside which say "Wien", "Hamburg", "Philadelphia" with overlapping circular, pictures resembling coins and the dates 1873, 1869, 1876 respectively to the cities above. There is also a metal engraved piece saying "L. Isermann", whom I know manufactured the mechanical workings of the piano. My questions to you, kind sir, are: "What make is this piano?" "Why all the stamps...exhibition piece?" "Is 1872 an accurate date?". I've attached photos for your review. I greatly appreciate any information you can give. The history of the piano is of much more interest to me than the value:) Thanks very much for your time!
Kind regards,
Monica Sadie

[Bill Kibby]

How rare to have someone who labels photos sensibly!

The markings are familiar to me, I will check which maker this would be. Then, if you can find any numbers inside, these should give us the date, perhaps around 1879.

The 1872 date cannot be correct. Piano makers often received medals at exhibitions, and liked to show them off in the piano, or on the front, and the tranfer shows that the piano must have been made after the 1876 exhibition, as described in "Gen about pianos" at pianogen.org

"Wien" is Vienna.

The original name transfer has been lost when the piano was stripped and repolished. It would originally have been much darker. In a British piano, the style of legs would be typical of the 1870s.

[MonicaLea]

Hi Bill,

Thanks so much for the quick and kind response! I will look for further dates inside and let you know. If you could find the maker for me, I would be thrilled. Also, is it safe to tune a piano this old? And should I use normal wood polish on the rosewood? I really want to keep the piano in perfect condition as it was loved for many generations in the previous family that owned it. I'm writing to you from Cape Town, South Africa, by the way, and the piano's previous owner shipped it here from Holland. So this piano is quite the world traveler, which makes its condition even more unbelievable! I just adore it. Thanks again for all your input!
Kind regards,
Monica

[Bill Kibby]

I am still puzzling over that group of medals, which is so familiar, but I can't find it. Probably German. Perhaps one of our other contributors can help?

You would have to ask your tuner about the individual piano, he or she will need to inspect it on the spot. Because this is not the original finish, I have no way of knowing what it is made of, and the best thing to do is experiment with a small area out of sight.

[Bill Kibby]

Sadly, although I recognise all the individual medals, I can't find a maker who won that particular group, although my first instinct was Schwechten. Isermann (Hamburg) actions are one of those makes that do not have convenient numbering to help us with the date.

[Colin Nicholson]

Hi Monica,
You might find that the wood is burred walnut veneer? - sometimes they carve the centre pieces from mahogany or rosewood.

It looks rather similar to a German piano I restored 2 years ago.... a 'Carl Mand' ? .... but I only mention this name because it had exactly the same kind of scrolled legs, a very similar decal arrangement in the right hand corner of the wrest plank, it was also over-damped and had those small strips of felted wood for the upper bridge.... and also had the corners cut off on the top lid.

If the wood is 'untreated' and natural, it should be fine to use some bees wax on it - it will bring it up like new. However, if the wood needs cleaning first, use a half & half solution of vinegar and linseed oil - shake it in a jar (looks like English mustard) - and apply it to the wood - before the vinegar & oil separate...... then use some bees wax.

You'll have to make an appointment with a piano tuner to see if it can be tuned - can't say here.... and it is likely it could be below concert pitch and unable to be pitch raised due to its age.

If you could send a photo of the complete mechanism - would be interested to see it! .... this may be the ''upright grand'' .... meaning the only way to remove the mechanism is to slide the complete keyboard & mechanism out - similar to removing a grand piano mechanism.

Where the carvings are - apply your solution carefully using a cotton bud.

Have a quick look on my upright piano restoration page on my website, there are some similar carvings on this piano....

http://www.aatuners.com/restoration.html

However, note the fallboard is brass inlaid with the makers name, and all the relevant wording/ medals etc.

Colin

[Gill the Piano]

Not an old Ibach, is it?

[Bill Kibby]

Ibach doesn't seem to line up with the medals.