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chopin36 · Member Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

I've recently purchased an old upright Ibach piano. Just wondered why the name of S Hermitage Sons is written on the keyboard cover. Any idea?

The piano is badly damaged with water marks. Any idea how to remove water marks/stains on wood?

Fred

stefan · Regular Poster Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 10

If you have white watermarks in the polishing you can try to burn them out: rub them with a little bit alcohol and let it burn for 1-2 seconds. The watermark will disappear. But you have to be very fast and careful.
You will have to burn the alcohol immediately!
yours, Stefan
www.hammerfluegel.net

Bill Kibby · Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:32 pm Post subject: Hermitage

You can now boast that you have a piano from the same dealer (Hermitage & Sons) who supply a grand to Debussy about a century ago, a Bluthner which is now in a Paris museum because of its famous owner.
_________________
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

chopin36 · Member Joined: 16 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

Dear Stefan, Dear Bill,

Thanks for your messages.

I am still trying to have more information about my piano.
I've managed to contact the manufacturer in Germany. My piano was completed in 1908, December 21st at the Ibach factory in Schwelm. It's an upright piano, P69 model, rosewood, unpolished - The catalogue name for this piano was 'Salon Pianino'. After completion it was shipped to H Klinker & CO in London. Have you got any information regarding this company/wholesale UK importer?
I assume later on the piano was sold to S Hermitage and Son (second name written on the piano)and sold.
Fred

Bill Kibby · Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:44 am Post subject: Ibach

I think you are very lucky to have received so much original information, may we ask where this was obtained? I imagined that Klinker was the sole importer for Ibach at the time, and Hermitage would have had to buy Ibach pianos through Klinker, but I can't see any references to Klinker as a piano firm under his own name around that time, and Ibach had their own offices in London. Earlier, importers like Hirsch would present themselves as being the office of several German makers.
_________________
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

housegodess · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Surrey

Water marks on waxed wood can be removed rubbing the stain gently with a cork screw greased with linseed oil. Then you can give it some shine with a cloth made of wool. Let me know how it goes.

I have recently bought an old "small" Rud Ibach Sohn piano. I do not know how old it is exactly but it does have a "serial number" inside. I would really appreciate it if you could give me an indication of its price for insurance purposes. Also, it is missing some of the top white part of the keys and I need to replace them. They look like ivory to me but I could be wrong. Please let me know if you need more information. Many thanks.

Bill Kibby · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: Ibach

Your tuner should be able to advise you about key coverings, and perhaps about price. Ivory usually has a join just level with the fronts of the sharps (black notes).
_________________
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

housegodess · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Surrey

Thanks Bill for the confirmation, they keys are as you said and therefore are made of Ivory.

Could you please help me identify my piano in more detail? I do not have any understanding of pianos and need the advice of an expert. What do I need to look at and how do I go about finding information please?

Alternatively, does anyone, with understanding of pianos, live around Hampshire/Surrey area and can help me please? Many thanks.

Bill Kibby · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:18 am Post subject: Ibach

There are no archives available, I can produce a report on design and approximate age, based on photos, but it depends what sort of information you are hoping for. (There is a long queue at the moment.) We may also have catalogue pages which match your piano. Have a look at the Reports section at www.PianoGen.org
_________________
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