[rebecca]

I have been given a small black upright piano. the lady who gave it to me said it was french. i have looked inside and found that the maker was a charles? stiles. 43 southampton row. s.w.... there is also a signiture. maybe A.Lark. but not sure. there are two serial numbers. The piano has striaght strings not crossed. does anyone know anything about it? it's age. whether it is good or not. i am looking to sell it. and have been offered &50. for it . i think this is too cheap but with out any info. i am lost as to whether to sell or not... any info would be greatly appriecated.

[Bill Kibby]

Charles Stiles sold pianos under his own name, probably made by a wholesaler, but he also imported foreign pianos, especially Bord, Paris. He would usually put his name on a disc inside the top. See "Valuation" and "Aliases" at
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/

I have some dates of Stiles' stock numbers, as well as info about Bord pianos.
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I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

Have a look at the Datemarks page on my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

Piano History Centre