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Barrie Heaton
Site Admin
Joined: 30 May 2003
Posts: 2251
Location: Lanc's
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 Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Celia wrote: | Oh silly me!
Yes, I'm sure it should be Brasted. Thanks, Celia
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This is all I have on them..
Brasted did make there own pianos but at Bill has pointed out they were not well know in own right they were established in 1870 in 1916 the company made parts for biplanes to help the war effort In 1925 Brasteds bought up Eavestaffs. In c1928 Brasted merged with Boyd Ltd.,. In 1934 Brasteds introduced the mini piano. Percy Brasted had discovered a miniature piano, made by Messrs. Lunholm of Stockholm from whom Brasteds bought the rights. The piano was then made only in England, Lundholm contracted to
import them and receive a royalty on sales. Percy Brasted gave it the name Mini Piano and it is sometimes claimed that it was his invention, but it will be remembered that in the 1920's Hicks had contracted to make a small piano, strung at the back, of German design. The Mini Piano appeared in all kinds of finishes and when coloured ones arrived in Sheffield and Barnes' Music shop in Oxford Street, London, the police were called in control the gazing crowds.
At the end of the year sales topped 7,000 at 28-38 guineas each. Early models had the wrestplank below the keyboard and the drop-action at the rear, so that the hammers struck forwards towards the player. Wedging was unnecessary, as half the strings were monochords and the rest bichords.
The wrestpins passed through the wrestplank and were double ended to allow for stringing at the back. If a string has to be replaced, it will be appreciated
that the coils have to be put on in the opposite direction and if the piano is chipped up from the back the pins are turned anti-clockwise to raise the pitch. Also, from this position, the bass will be on the right hand side and treble to the left. Later Jack Davis, who worked for Brasteds, designed a flanged iron frame to which the case would be built, enabling higher string tension and reducing the width by about 8 inches.
The braceless back was soon copied by other makers. With the soundboard now forming the back of the piano, the action could be put in its traditional
position, but of course, below the keys. Wire were attached to the backs of the keys, to pull up the wippens and trichord stringing was re-introduced.
Lastly, to achieve longer bass strings, a sort of triangular action was made, with the treble strike line being horizontal, but the bass section tapering down to the left. The mini piano, and more particularly the early type, has often been
criticised, but nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that it did much to maintain and even stimulate interest in an industry which was being hit by the Gramophone and the Radio. The name Eavestaff was used on the fall on the instrument. Americans usually know small uprights by the name spinet,
which is neither accurate nor helpful.
The Challen company ceased independent manufacture in 1959, with the name going to the Brasted brothers.
At the end of 1970 Eavestaff pianos were marketed by a new company formed by John Brasted. The pianos were to be made under licence by Kemble & Co. Like Challens for some years previously, Eavestaff pianos
were made at the Barratt & Robinson factory, Hermitage Road, Harringay.
Brasteds did not publish serial numbers for their make of piano but they did keep the Eavestaff ones up top date as far as we know If you send some
photos to Bill and a small donation  he will give you a good idea of when it was made
Hope this was some help I have changed the subject to reflect the name of the piano
Barrie,,
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Barrie Heaton
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Celia
Member
Joined: 10 Aug 2003
Posts: 9
Location: Stroud, Glos
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2003 2:06 pm Post subject: Anonymous piano (Brasted piano) |
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That was fascinating stuff - thanks very much - must have taken you ages to type all that.
Although mine isn't a mini piano it was funny to read about the coloured ones - apart from spending part of its life painted white, it was also painted orange for a while!!!
I've already emailed some photos to Bill and will post on a donation.
Thanks again
Celia |
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Bill Kibby
Moderator
Joined: 04 Jun 2003
Posts: 2864
Location: Great Yarmouth UK
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:57 pm Post subject: Brasted |
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I can only estimate the date by the number 37786, which suggests about 1924.
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I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue wood-frame pianos in the UK.
My own website: http://www.pianogen.org
Email Bill@PianoGen.org
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Barrie Heaton
Site Admin
Joined: 30 May 2003
Posts: 2251
Location: Lanc's
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2003 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: Anonymous piano (Brasted piano) |
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| Celia wrote: | That was fascinating stuff - thanks very much - must have taken you ages to type all that.
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I just copied bits form the main history page I did and still doing when I have the time.
http://www.uk-piano.org/history/history_1.html
Barrie,
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Barrie Heaton
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