Brinsley & Co upright piano

[jay_church]

I'm trying to find out more about an upright piano that I have recently inherited.

It has the makers name - Brinsley & Co London and as far as I know is approximately 80 years old.

I'm thinking of having the piano restored to full working order so any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.J.

[Bill Kibby]

It may not be the makers' name at all. Are you sure about the spelling? I know of several similar names, but have no record of Brinsley yet. As you say, it could well be twenties. Have a look at the Datemarks page at www.PianoGen.org

[jay_church]

Here's a pic of the name... any ideas?

I'll have a good look around for a datemarks.

[Bill Kibby]

The name is clear, but I have no record so far of a real maker by that name in our many London lists. It may be an alias used by a dealer on pianos bought in from anonymous wholesalers. A century ago, many pianos were produced in great numbers by huge factories employing hundreds of workers, but it is important to understand that there were still tiny "cottage industries" - little workshops and sheds in people's back gardens producing pianos more-or-less from scratch, buying in parts such as actions and keys from specialists. Some of these firms did not belong to trade organisations, or subscribe to trade directories, so unless we are lucky enough to find advertisements, there is no way of tracking them down by active research, although we have the best chance of something turning up at random.

[rayofsussex]

Many years after the first enquiry about Brinsley pianos but I thought I might answer from personal experience.


We had a piano at home where I was brought up, decal showing "Brinsley and Co". It was in a red wood, perhaps mahogany and was an upright with upright strings, not overstrung.
It was sold 20 years back so I cannot look at the name on the inside, but I do believe it was a make, and I recollect the tuner looking it up on a list he carried to decide how much to charge us.

The piano had a habit of going out of tune quite frequently. We could be sitting by the fire and hear a crack inside the piano which was obviously one of the pins going loose.

The action wasn't the best in the world either, and one or two dampers had the habit of sticking, but it looked a nice bit of furniture and we got through the grades by learning on it.

So in summary I think it was a marque of pianos but not one of the more recognised names.