Brinsmead piano post 1960

[stonemartin]

My daughter has a piano by John Brinsmead and Son, serial number 86376, which indicates production post 1960. Its previous owner appears to have been Manchester Education Committee since it came, I believe, from a school in South Manchester. Hence I am assuming that it may have been one of a number supplied to Manchester schools, or schools and colleges in general. Its case, a light, blondish colour, bears the marks of years of use, and abuse, but otherwise appears, to my non-expert eye, in reasonably good condition. It tunes well and maintains pitch. My daughter finds it surplus to her requirements and I am thinking of giving it a home. Having recently retired, I have the time to give to learning to play, having embarked on lessons some years ago, but then being forced to abandon them for work related and other reasons. I am wondering whether anyone can shed light on the history of this instrument and whether it would be worth looking at reconditioning or whether I should look to purchase a more modern instrument?

[Bill Kibby]

A modern "Brinsmead" like that was probably made by Kemble. Nobody can advise you about the individual without inspecting it and tuning it, so a local tuner is the place to start.

As to its date, it is probably marked inside, see
http://pianogen.org/datemarks.html

There are some modern Brinsmead numbers at the bottom of the page
http://pianogen.org/numbers.html