How to date a Bechstein grand?
Andy Evans
inscription reads:
C.Bechstein
Flugwl - und Pianino - Fabrik
HOFLIEFERANT
etc etc etc
Berlin
5-7 Johannestrasse
Paris 1e 334 rue St. honore
London W
40 Wigmore St.
=== Andy Evans ===
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Larry
I've always found if you send flowers it tends to loosen them up a little.....
Seriously, without a serial number, you can't. There is a number somewhere, you
just haven't found it. If it isn't on the plate, it most likely was given a
"cosmetic rebuild" somewhere in its past, and they just painted over it. Look
all under the piano - often the number is stamped into a beam somewhere. If you
don't find it there, take the fallboard and cheekblocks out, and look on the
bottom of them or under them. It may even be stamped into the keybed to the
left or right of the action.
Or, it may not. Can't help you if that's the case.
Larry Fletcher
Andy Evans
the same - mine says:
C.Bechstein
Flugel - und Pianino - Fabrik
Jens Schlosser
usually the number is printed on the soundboard just beneath "Berlin,
Johannes-Str. 5-7". If it isn't that would indicate that the piano was
rebuild in the past. I'd try to figure out when this rebuild was done
and who did it. The rebuilder might know about the serial number.
If you only need to know the year roughly it might be possible to find
out more about the piano if you provided some detailed pictures of the
soundboard and frame and also of the action. Bechstein used several
types of actions over the years and if it is a piano made after
1900-1910 there should be the model letter in the frame (in your case
a "B" since the 6'8 is eighter a model "B" or a model V).
Best regards,
Jens
Andy Evans
http://www.smart-pianos.com/piano/gallery/p047-bechstein-piano-b.htm
So I guess the date is 1902-10
dw...@cix.compulink.co.uk
> I have a Bechstein grand, brown, 6 ft 8 ins. I can't find any number.
> the
> inscription reads:
> C.Bechstein
> Flugwl - und Pianino - Fabrik
> HOFLIEFERANT
> etc etc etc
> Berlin
> 5-7 Johannestrasse
> Paris 1e 334 rue St. honore
> London W
> 40 Wigmore St.
40 Wigmore Street indicates it's pre-1914. The Bechstein Hall at that
address was sequestrated under war regulations and became and remains the
much more prestigious (if such a thing is possible) Wigmore Hall. This is
currently reckoned to be the second most expensive chamber music recital
room to hire in the world.
Another system is to note the worthies who are listed in the ornate
stencil on the soundboard and check against their assassinations, or just
plain demise.
I have a Bechstein grand which displays no clue as to its age except the
style of frame (= plate) and legs (cabriole). But since I'm a dowser and
can date pianos without such orthodox clues, I know it was made in 1905.
> My piano is mahogany, slim square legs. Looks exactly like this:
> http://www.smart-pianos.com/piano/gallery/p047-bechstein-piano-b.htm
>
> So I guess the date is 1902-10
Ha. I don't think Bechsteins did square legs on their grands until around
1910, although rebuilders have often shaved the cabriole legs down and
encased them to produce a more modern look.
I'll have a stab in this case at: 1911.
=== dwi...@cix.compulink.co.uk
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Bonnie Granat
Take her to a really nice restaurant?
--
Bonnie Granat
Granat Technical Editing and Writing
http://www.granatedit.com
Gary Rimar
patrons came over and started throwing money.
Gary (I only stayed five hours) Rimar
"Bonnie Granat" <bgr...@granatedit.com> wrote in message
news:3fa8...@andromeda.5sc.net...
H. Emmerson Meyers
last century.
"Andy Evans" <aeatarts...@aol.comnohawker> wrote in message
news:20031102185511...@mb-m05.aol.com...
Andy Evans
last century.>>
"Springtime for Bechstein and Germany"!