kingsford London?

Ask questions on piano history and the age of your piano.

Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Bill Kibby

Post Reply
esther1uk
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Feb 2010, 20:01

kingsford London?

Post by esther1uk »

Hi,

I've just bought a lovely sounding piano at auction, but I can't find any information about the maker at all. It just says on it Kingsford. London.

If anyone can shed any light, that would be great.

Thanks
Amanda
http://www.thomaswatson.com/item-details.asp?id=10460 (link to picture)
Pianomate
Persistent Poster
Persistent Poster
Posts: 262
Joined: 27 Nov 2008, 18:35

Re: kingsford London?

Post by Pianomate »

My guess is it dates from teens to early 20s
User avatar
Bill Kibby
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5687
Joined: 04 Jun 2003, 19:25
Location: Lincolnshire UK
Contact:

Kingsford London?

Post by Bill Kibby »

I did post a reply yesterday, but it seems to have evaporated! The Bristol City Museum has one of these, but I have so far been unable to locate a real maker named Kingsford. The vast majority of piano names are not listed on the internet, I have over twenty thousand on file, and many are meaningless aliases.

Pianos very similar to this were made in London from the twenties to the fifties, my guess would be about 1930. Read my Datemarks page at www.pianogen.org
Piano History Centre
http://pianohistory.info
Email via my website.
If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
vernon
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 914
Joined: 12 Mar 2008, 10:29
Location: N.E.Scotland
Contact:

Re: kingsford London?

Post by vernon »

in the 1940s and 1950s when pianos were extensively " modernised",any old made up name was affixed.
Almost any piano bought "new" in the ,late 40s,early 50s was in fact "reconditioned" old 20s and 30s
We still get would -be sellers brandishing grandma's receipt for the "new" piano bought then and they are often very suspicious at being told the real age.
One lady the other day a lady produced the receipt and was startled when I explained that the abbreviation at the bottom--"S/H" meant second-hand!
Our mission in life is to tune customers--not pianos.

Any fool can make a piano-- it needs a tuner to put the music in it

www.lochnesspianos.co.uk
Pianomate
Persistent Poster
Persistent Poster
Posts: 262
Joined: 27 Nov 2008, 18:35

Re: kingsford London?

Post by Pianomate »

Is there anything written inside it or on the frame?
User avatar
Bill Kibby
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 5687
Joined: 04 Jun 2003, 19:25
Location: Lincolnshire UK
Contact:

Kingsford London?

Post by Bill Kibby »

Personally, I would rather have grannies' receipts than most of the pianos of that era!
Piano History Centre
http://pianohistory.info
Email via my website.
If you find old references or links on this site to pianogen.org, they should refer to pianohistory.info
esther1uk
New Member
New Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Feb 2010, 20:01

Re: kingsford London?

Post by esther1uk »

Pianomate wrote:Is there anything written inside it or on the frame?

Hi, I can't locate anything except a number on the frame which is 47302. On the outside of the piano it says, "Kingsford London", and "john Burdon and Sons" "Stockton on Tees. When I remove the board below the keyboard, there is a symbol that looks like a harp embossed on the lower frame.

I shall locate a torch and maybe I can see more!

Amanda
Post Reply