[Bernard Hunt]

I have a friend who is seeking information about an old piano that has been in her family for nearly a century. The piano bears the name August Leitner, Stuttgart, and also carries the name Ewing & McIntosh, Glasgow, along with a royal warrant saying "By Special Appointment to His Majesty the King." The piano has been in the family since at least 1911 when my friend's grandmother took it from Scotland to Canada when she emigrated. The piano now belongs to my friend in Oregon, USA. I deduce, assume, surmise, that the manufacturer was Herr Leitner of Stuttgart and the Ewing & McIntosh may refer to the store that sold the piano. I am unable to find any further information on this piano and I wonder if some kind soul can enlighten me further. My friend says she has been told the piano is made of Black Forest rosewood and was one of only five made of the type. Like much apochryphal stuff, that may be bogus. I would appreciate any information of any type, be it about Leitner, about Ewing & McIntosh or about Black Forest rosewood pianos. Thank you all in advance.

[Barrie Heaton]

Not found any info in the usual places However, the piano may have been named after Karl August Leitner (ca. 1850): the composer

Perhaps like Clementi Mr Leitner was involved in selling pianos and used his name to sell them you
could try one of the German piano pages and ask there

http://www.pianonews.de/

Barrie,
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Barrie Heaton
Web Master UK Piano Page

[Bill Kibby]

Ewing & M'Intosh were at Sauchiehall Street for almost a century, so unless there are other addresses, they don't help much. The nearest name I can find so far is Leistler, but I'll see whar else I can turn up. As for "only five were made" I wish I had a pound for every time I've heard that. Next, they'll be saying it was made for the Queen Mary.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1880 pianos in the UK.

My own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Email Bill@PianoGen.org

Piano History Centre

[samgoin]

I also have a piano by Ewing & McIntosh Iam trying to get information on. I was unable to find any reference to Leistner. We were told in 1975 when thte piano was purchased it was about 200 yrs old. Were you ever able to find and info and do you have a photo. Mine looks like a burl wood of some sort with inlaid flowers on each side. It has hols where either sconces or candles went at one time. Thanks for any inof you can provide.

[Bill Kibby]

It's important to understand that there are very few pianos around that are as old as 1775, and NO upright pianos whatsoever - they didn't exist in that form. Sconces were mainly found on upright pianos between about 1820 and 1920, so they don't help much. If you type pianogen into your internet address bar, you can send me photos, and I can tell you more, or even compile a complete report.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1880 pianos in the UK.

My own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Email Bill@PianoGen.org

Piano History Centre

[lizilook]

We also have a piano which is around 100 years old with the words By Special Appointment to His Majesty the King manufactured for Ewing & McIntosh, Glasgow, also with the Glasgow Coat of Arms, under the lid, flowerlike design in the centre above the keyboard, also a place on either side where a candle holder might have been removed.
The piano is still with the family in Glasgow who purchased it unfortunately, the original owner now deceased (the piano was bought for his birthday when he was eight years old).

[Bill Kibby]

They were in Sauchiehall Street from at least the 1880s to the 1930s, by which time they were "Ltd.", so the name is no great help in judging anything about the piano. Doesn't it say who "manufactured expressly" for them?
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1880 pianos in the UK.

My own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Email Bill@PianoGen.org

Piano History Centre

[rosielee]

Hello, I also have a Ewing and M'Intosh,(Glasgow) piano, and are wondering if you have any information on them.

[Bill Kibby]

Apart from the information above, I can always deal with enquiries and reports through my website.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1880 pianos in the UK.

My own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Email Bill@PianoGen.org

Piano History Centre

[jim nelson]

I found your website last evening and thought you might be interested in the following:

My great grandmother Jane Gold nee Ewing was the sister of James Ewing who co-founded the firm of Ewing & Mackintosh with premises in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.

James was blind from birth and trained as a piano tuner, sometimes travelling by train to outlying places to carry out his business. It was said that on a first visit to a client he would ask directions from railway station staff and passers by and those directions were locked in his memory so he never needed to ask again on future visits.

I cannot tell you much about the firm other than that they were "By Appointment" to the Royal Family and that one of their upright models was named "The Bell" piano.

I have a faded photograph of James and his wife Hettie and another of his sister Marion who married one James Millar, the head french polisher at the Ewing & Mackintosh factory.

[Bill Kibby]

Thanks for that. If you ever get around to scanning the photo, it would be interesting to see it for our Piano History Centre.
_________________
I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1880 pianos in the UK.

My own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Email Bill@PianoGen.org

Piano History Centre