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getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Hi. thanks for a fantastic site. Could you help me find out anything about a piano I have just got for my son to replace his old cracked straight-strung? It is an overstrung underdamped upright with the name Melodist and below that overstrung, the frame has J.H.Clarke on it. Stamped on the upper edge is what I think is HLI? 66306 OR 66366 it is very hard to make out. I can find the odd mention in your forum on the frame name but nothing on Melodist. It is a nice old piano and in concert pitch.
Thanks Rob.

Bill Kibby · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: Melodist

The vast majority of piano names are not listed ANYWHERE on the net. We have over twenty thousand names on file, and every week, new ones come in which we have no record of. I have a feeling I may wake up in the middle of the night saying "it's not Melodist, it's...." so are you absolutely sure about the spelling? A number with letters in front of it sounds like a dealer's stock number.

Have a look at the Datemarks page at www.PianoGen.org
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre

The World's Largest Collection of
Historical Information about British Pianos.

getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Hi, thanks. It is Melodist, I will look for more marks and get back to you, it plays very nice. Thanks again Rob.

getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

O.K all I can find so far is on the frame which has
J.H.Clark&Co on it, it also has cast into it 902A,
I think I will ask whoever tunes it to try and find some more numbers. Thanks again Rob.

Bill Kibby · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: Melodist

Numbers are no help with this name. Clark is mainly found in the thirties, but some may be around 1915. 902A is not among the dated examples we have on file.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre

The World's Largest Collection of
Historical Information about British Pianos.

getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

The name Melodist is written in Gothic script and has quotation marks like this "Melodist". So would this be the model rather than the make also on the upper right of the soundboard in between the tuning pegs are the numbers 55596
Thanks for a great site Rob.

getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

It has 88 keys, and I will get a piano tuner to find out more if poss. Catch you later Rob.

getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Sorry that number should read 53596

Bill Kibby · Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject: Melodist

As I said, numbers are no use to you for a Melodist, no dates are published.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre

The World's Largest Collection of
Historical Information about British Pianos.

getcarternow · Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Thank you very much, I will try and find out more this end. Melodist must ba a model name rarther than the make. We will get there in the end. Thanks Rob.

PS Pianos are FAB