[Helen]

I have found a rather sad Aucher Freres piano gathering dust in someone's shed. It's mine for Aus$300 if I want. Does anyone know anything about these pianos - I understand that they were known as yachts' pianos because of the folding keyboard, but were they built specifically as a "seagoing" instrument? I'd love to give this one a new lease of life if possible, but would I be buying trouble? many thanks for any help.

Helen

[Bill Kibby]

The main feature of a Yacht piano is that it has to take up as little space as possible, so as well as being fairly small, it usually has a keyboard that folds away. Whether or not it goes to sea is not really the point. In 1880, Aucher Freres exhibited at the Melbourne Exhibition: The catalogue says "Originality for the folding keyboard was claimed, but this invention is well know and adopted by so many French makers as to be hardly worth notice, unless it is as a specimen of workmanship in accurate adjustment".

I would be interested to see photos if you have any, press www below.
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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