Kemmler

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Gill the Piano
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Kemmler

Post by Gill the Piano »

Hello, Bill.
Tuned a Kemmler yesterday , looked 1910ish but of course no mention in Pierce. Serial number appears to be 129396, and it came from Kemmler Benard and Co., 26 Wigmore Street London. Do you have any leads for a date that I could report to the owner please? The only other number on the back of the nameboard rail was 3307, but I think that might be a casework number.
I play for my own amazement... :piano;
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Kemmler

Post by Bill Kibby »

Any chance of a photo?

I have the impression that the Stuttgart ones are earlier, Osnabruck later. Although there a lots of Kemmler pianos on Google Images, very little is known or published about the company. I am still working on this, but judging by the following, #3307 might be the important one...

1905 #4526: Receipt for Kemmler piano (courtesy Gill Green): G.B. Goddard, 1, Devonshire Colonnade, and 62, South Avenue, Buxton. Pianoforte Tuner etc., Music & Musical Instrument Dealer. Established 1863. June 1905 To Kemmler Pianoforte no.4526 "Rosewood" £35.0.0.

Circa 1907 #5123: C.Kemmler & Co., Osnabruck piano #5,123 dated by Langer action number 28,890. Some models used Kruger actions but the Langers can be dated by their action numbers, which are on the rear of the hammer rail.

1911 - Dolge doesn't list Kemmler as a German maker, neither does the Europe Piano Atlas.

1928 Musique Adresses Universel lists Kemmler, Osnabruck.
1938 Music Trades Directory lists C.Kemmler & Co. 36a Queen's Road London W.2.
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Kemmler

Post by Bill Kibby »

1880 Not listed.
1886 Not listed in Kelly's Directory.
1891 Charles Kemmler & Co. had a London office at 61E Abbey road London N.W., and there is a shop still visible on Google Earth which may be it.
1892 Post Office London Directory liists Kemmler & Co., 61E Abbey road London N.W.
1894 Not listed in Kelly's Directory.
1899 Not listed in Kelly's Directory.
1905 #4526: Receipt for Kemmler piano (courtesy Gill Green): G.B. Goddard, 1, Devonshire Colonnade, and 62, South Avenue, Buxton. Pianoforte Tuner etc., Music & Musical Instrument Dealer. Established 1863. June 1905 To Kemmler Pianoforte no.4526 "Rosewood" £35.0.0.

Circa 1907 #5123: C.Kemmler & Co., Osnabruck piano #5,123 dated by Langer action number 28,890. (Some models used Kruger actions)

1910? #3307 & #129396 "Hello, Bill. Tuned a Kemmler yesterday , looked 1910ish but of course no mention in Pierce. Serial number appears to be 129396, and it came from Kemmler Benard and Co., 26 Wigmore Street London. Do you have any leads for a date that I could report to the owner please? The only other number on the back of the nameboard rail was 3307, but I think that might be a casework number. Gill Green 2016"

1911 Not listed.
1914 Music Trades Directory lists C.Kemmler & Co. lists Kemmler, Benard & Co., 26 Wigmore Street.
1928 Musique Adresses Universel lists Kemmler, Osnabruck, but I have the impression that the Stuttgart ones are earlier.
1936 Kemmler, Benard & Co., 36a Queen's Road London W.2.
1938 Music Trades Directory lists C.Kemmler & Co. 36a Queen's Road London W.2.
Piano History Centre
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Email via my website.
If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
Gill the Piano
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Re: Kemmler

Post by Gill the Piano »

Thanks for all that, Bill... no, I have no camera on my telephone (yep, I know - dinosaur!) but it was a dark matte mahogany case with 3 panels, satinwood banding round the inside of each panel. No screwholes on the small panels. Square legs, no fancy brackets. I took a punt at 1910, but thinking about it the pianos didn't change much really between then and the 30s, did they? Benard & Kemmler weren't at Wigmore Street any earlier then? The customer seemed to think that it was pre WW2 from her family knowledge of the piano, but wasn't sure.
I play for my own amazement... :piano;
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Bill Kibby
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Re: Kemmler

Post by Bill Kibby »

I have a unique and growing collection of directory lists, over a million UK entries, but when the firm is not listed, we can't really tell whether they weren't there, or whether they just didn't choose to be included in the various forms of directory. All I can say about Kemmler Benard is that they were there in 1914. Anything more would require a trip to London to do specific research.

Did it have a German action? If so, the action maker's name and number might help.
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If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
Gill the Piano
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Re: Kemmler

Post by Gill the Piano »

I'll look next time I'm there. Thanks Bill!
I play for my own amazement... :piano;
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