[Carol Selby]

I was given an old ships piano some years ago. The markings on the casting are "J. B. Cramer & Co, London. Patent". The serial number is 29841. I would very much like to know the history of this piano - where, when manufactured. I would also like to have a value for insurance purposes. Any information would be appreciated. It has fold away keyboard, fold away music stand but the fold away candle sticks are missing, the foot peddles are 'hung' and can easily be detached. Many thanks Carol Selby

[Bill Kibby]

The number suggests 1899, but although the term "Ship's Piano" has been mentioned to me many times over the past forty years, no-one has ever been able to provide a definition, and I have never found one single manufacturer using that term. A Yacht Piano is a small or portable piano, often with a folding keyboard, suitable for use on board a yacht, where space is restricted. A ship can have any kind of piano it likes! Cramer made "Portable Pianos" with folding keyboards, and also their "Yacht Pianos", descriptions of which I have so far been unable to obtain. Cramers sent me what little information they had years ago, and I have added a lot to it since then. If you send photos to me at the PianoGen website, I can do more and there is a "Valuation" button.
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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