J. Becker grand piano
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J. Becker grand piano
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.
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Bill Kibby »
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Finland_tuner »
I know the real age of this instrument. It is 1867
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by krzywymarian »
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
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Colin Nicholson »
Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by ephilipdavis »
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Colin Nicholson »
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
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
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........
Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by ephilipdavis »
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Re: J. Becker grand piano #7838
Post by Bill Kibby »
That 1867 one seems much too early, and you can see examples of Bechstein and Bluthner interiors for 1867 on my Grand page at
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Re: J. Becker grand piano #7838
Post by Finland_tuner »
Hi...Bill Kibby wrote:I wonder if Finland_tuner could enlighten us about Becker number dates?
J.Becker`s serial numbers in the piano guide book aren`t correct.
This is the correct dating:
#10148 - 1889
#27473 - 1911
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Finland_tuner »
It was my mistake.Finland_tuner wrote:I know the real age of this instrument. It is 1867
#7838 - c.1883-1884
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Finland_tuner »
In the photo are original Becker piano`s legsBill Kibby wrote: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.
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J. Becker grand piano #11155
Post by jkikavalko »
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**.
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Re: J. Becker grand piano #11155
Post by jkikavalko »
http://aijaa.com/meO4wB
http://aijaa.com/vcM8lI
http://aijaa.com/qeB7fe
http://aijaa.com/5rbP1d
The whole picture:
http://aijaa.com/74YLBY
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Bill Kibby »
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If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
Re: J. Becker grand piano
Wonder what happened to the original legs.
Any fool can make a piano-- it needs a tuner to put the music in it
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Ralucaalexandra1234 »
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Bill Kibby »
With all those pictures, you don't show us what the whole piano looks like.
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by ANIKHELADZE »
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Post by Bill Kibby »
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Re: J. Becker grand piano
Re: J. Becker grand piano
Also very little in the way of value.
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