[Fryderyk]

Hi guys. I have a J & J Hopkinson upright piano, serial number 51905, about 1895. I tried to restore it, cleaning ivory keys, mechanic, hammers. The piano maker is H.W. Charsley - (I supposed Henry William Charsley) - see here:

http://family.charsley.org.uk/individual.php?pid=I86&ged=charsley.ged

So I uploaded a video on youtube to show you my first piano:

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=G96y0Jb669s&feature=user

I don't know about "Harmston & Co.": Do you know what it means?
Thanks a lot.

[Bill Kibby]

I couldn't see one single shot of the whole piano in that video. The piano's maker was Hopkinson, Charsley was just a key maker according to our information. Where did you find his name in the piano? Was it on a key? And is Harmston's name on the piano? He was a retailer.
_________________
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

[Fryderyk]

Hi Bill Kibby and thanks lot of for your reply. I found his name (H.W.Charsley) in the last key, near leads, laterally. Here,there are two single shot,about Harmston and whole piano:

http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hopkinson1tc1.jpg
http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hopkinson2bs0.jpg

Thank you very much. Bye.

[Bill Kibby]

In about 1895, Charsley made the keys for Hopkinson, who made the rest of the piano, and Harmston sold it.
_________________
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

[Fryderyk]

Thanks a lot of Bill. I love my Hopkinson, my first piano. The hammer action is Lexow, Berlin, very very beautiful mechanism. About the Lexow's serial numer I don't remember. Bye.

[Bill Kibby]

It would be interesting to know the Lexow number if you ever come across it, because the piano seems to be 1895, and that may help us date other early Lexow actions. My list at

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/piano-serial-numbers.html

has no Lexow dates before 1923.
_________________
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

[Fryderyk]

[Bill Kibby]

Ad. Lexow was the man's name, I imagine it might have been Adolf. Thanks for the number.
_________________
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

[Fryderyk]

So,did Hopkinson buy the hammer action in Berlin?
Similar today,with Renner action...
Can I've more notices about Hopkinson factory please?
Thank you very much.
Bye.