BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT THE PIANO
Introduction
Before upright and grand pianos were invented, the piano was basically just like a wooden oblong box with strings. Some had legs, some didn't, and mostly didn't have any pedals.... the "Square Piano" was named. In 1709 saw the first escapement piano mechanism invented by Christofori. Some very early squares from the 1600s had knee pedals. I've decided to cut to the chase, and start from around the mid 1700s showing the development of the piano in some kind of chronological order. If you have had difficulty in dating your piano (re serial number or lack of), this is the next best place to look. Dates are approximate.
There was no exact cut-off date or year between different designs of pianos; many new designs overlapped old designs.
Most early rectangular shaped pianos are described as square pianos, as we now know - however they did resemble a grand piano more than an upright piano because of their shape and horizontal strings. Very early pianos were often incorrectly named as a "piano", when in fact they were a harpsichord or clavichord. A piano MUST have hammers that strike and fall back from the string.
A QUICK WORD IN YOUR EAR....
The following information is a guide only, and does not replace the need for a proper face-to-face inspection of your piano.
By providing just a piano name and serial number alone will not provide you with much information.
When we watch TV programs like "The Antiques Roadshow" / "Flog it" and other similar programs, when someone wants to know more about that object, the expert will ask a few questions / pick it up (and hold its weight) / examine it in close detail / refer to other experts and research if needed / smell the wood / look out for specific kinds of wood joints, mouldings and ornamentation. Only then can an expert give a correct appraisal about that object. Even photos alone are not the answer, so if you think your piano is worth something, or you want to know more about it, why not book an appointment with a piano expert who will be more than happy to give you the right information from the start.
TYPES OF PIANO
There are four main category types of piano:-
1. Cabinet (not to be confused for the casework)
2. Square
3. Upright
4. Grand
Each category can have different models, sizes and style, but essentially any piano can only have one "type" name.
The type of piano is determined by its overall shape.
So the following may be helpful:-
1. Cabinet piano = very tall / vertical
2. Square piano = horizontal / short / like a table
3. Upright piano = vertical
4. Grand piano = horizontal / longer from 3ft.
There are some pianos that like to call themselves an "upright grand" or even "cabinet grand" - however this is nonsense.
Wording / decals / transfers on some pianos are sometimes printed onto the piano casework to over-exaggerate the piano's type - this is only a form of advertising, and may not tell you it's real type. So remember that a piano can only have ONE type, not a mixture of two or more different types. It's like saying a car is a saloon and estate...... only one or the other. Same with pianos.
SQUARE PIANOS
Introduction
Before upright and grand pianos were invented, the piano was basically just like a wooden oblong box with strings. Some had legs, some didn't, and mostly didn't have any pedals.... the "Square Piano" was named. In 1709 saw the first escapement piano mechanism invented by Christofori. Some very early squares from the 1600s had knee pedals. I've decided to cut to the chase, and start from around the mid 1700s showing the development of the piano in some kind of chronological order. If you have had difficulty in dating your piano (re serial number or lack of), this is the next best place to look. Dates are approximate.
There was no exact cut-off date or year between different designs of pianos; many new designs overlapped old designs.
Most early rectangular shaped pianos are described as square pianos, as we now know - however they did resemble a grand piano more than an upright piano because of their shape and horizontal strings. Very early pianos were often incorrectly named as a "piano", when in fact they were a harpsichord or clavichord. A piano MUST have hammers that strike and fall back from the string.
A QUICK WORD IN YOUR EAR....
The following information is a guide only, and does not replace the need for a proper face-to-face inspection of your piano.
By providing just a piano name and serial number alone will not provide you with much information.
When we watch TV programs like "The Antiques Roadshow" / "Flog it" and other similar programs, when someone wants to know more about that object, the expert will ask a few questions / pick it up (and hold its weight) / examine it in close detail / refer to other experts and research if needed / smell the wood / look out for specific kinds of wood joints, mouldings and ornamentation. Only then can an expert give a correct appraisal about that object. Even photos alone are not the answer, so if you think your piano is worth something, or you want to know more about it, why not book an appointment with a piano expert who will be more than happy to give you the right information from the start.
TYPES OF PIANO
There are four main category types of piano:-
1. Cabinet (not to be confused for the casework)
2. Square
3. Upright
4. Grand
Each category can have different models, sizes and style, but essentially any piano can only have one "type" name.
The type of piano is determined by its overall shape.
So the following may be helpful:-
1. Cabinet piano = very tall / vertical
2. Square piano = horizontal / short / like a table
3. Upright piano = vertical
4. Grand piano = horizontal / longer from 3ft.
There are some pianos that like to call themselves an "upright grand" or even "cabinet grand" - however this is nonsense.
Wording / decals / transfers on some pianos are sometimes printed onto the piano casework to over-exaggerate the piano's type - this is only a form of advertising, and may not tell you it's real type. So remember that a piano can only have ONE type, not a mixture of two or more different types. It's like saying a car is a saloon and estate...... only one or the other. Same with pianos.
SQUARE PIANOS
1760
Early English Square Piano resembling a clavichord.
Would have either no legs or legs that have been added later.
Cabinet was usually mahogany / short 3-4 octave keyboard with ivory & ebony.
Single string per note / fixed closed cabinet / leather hinges & hammers
1800 Square Piano
Spindle - style legs that unscrewed (wooden threads) for transportation on horse & carriage.
Fallboard & music rest designs were more elaborate.
From 1820 metal bracing appears, as string tension increases
Desk style top lid that opened and closed with metal lid sliding stay
Cabinet: Mahogany, Oak
1860 Square Piano (similar to Broadwood)
Square pianos became much heavier looking and structurally more solid.
Cabinets are "rounded off" at the corners (which came back in the 1950s for uprights).
Pedal lyres and ornate 'cherub' turned legs saw the birth of the grand & upright piano.
4 -5 octave keyboards with ivory and ebony.
Highly decorative music rest often with fret work
GRAND PIANOS / HARPSICHORDS
1780
Early grand pianos still resembled harpsichords, and designs were often mixed.
Square - cut rear section to the cabinet (coffin shaped) / unusually showing four legs
"Trestle" or thin tapered legs and squared off ends
Basic rectangular 'picture frame' music rest without tray
Black and white keys sometimes swapped colours (i.e. the ivories were black/ ebonies white)
During this period there were many different patented actions and inventions
Harpsichords had single strings and were plucked by a "plectra"
Grand pianos had one or two strings and were hit by hammers
Early grand pianos still resembled harpsichords, and designs were often mixed.
Square - cut rear section to the cabinet (coffin shaped) / unusually showing four legs
"Trestle" or thin tapered legs and squared off ends
Basic rectangular 'picture frame' music rest without tray
Black and white keys sometimes swapped colours (i.e. the ivories were black/ ebonies white)
During this period there were many different patented actions and inventions
Harpsichords had single strings and were plucked by a "plectra"
Grand pianos had one or two strings and were hit by hammers
1860
The English/ German Grand Piano
Straight-strung stringing (some overseas designs were over-strung)
Straight - strung = all strings running parallel to each other
Over - strung = bass strings crossing over treble strings at an angle
Robust wooden threaded turned octagonal tapered legs with castors
Pedal lyres more "harp" shaped, reflecting late square piano pedal designs
Left una corda (soft) pedal and Right sustain pedal only
Rounded/ sweeping ornate cheeks (each side of the keyboard)
85 note keyboard (7 octaves) with ivory key coverings
Cabinets were in mahogany, walnut, rosewood, oak or ebonised (black French Polish)
As other grand pianos took off in their design, the cabinet was generally very similar to all designs - even today!
A more reliable method to date grand pianos is to inspect the legs, pedal lyre and stringing arrangement.
Some early grand pianos like this had porcelain castors instead of brass and highly decorative music rests.
The English/ German Grand Piano
Straight-strung stringing (some overseas designs were over-strung)
Straight - strung = all strings running parallel to each other
Over - strung = bass strings crossing over treble strings at an angle
Robust wooden threaded turned octagonal tapered legs with castors
Pedal lyres more "harp" shaped, reflecting late square piano pedal designs
Left una corda (soft) pedal and Right sustain pedal only
Rounded/ sweeping ornate cheeks (each side of the keyboard)
85 note keyboard (7 octaves) with ivory key coverings
Cabinets were in mahogany, walnut, rosewood, oak or ebonised (black French Polish)
As other grand pianos took off in their design, the cabinet was generally very similar to all designs - even today!
A more reliable method to date grand pianos is to inspect the legs, pedal lyre and stringing arrangement.
Some early grand pianos like this had porcelain castors instead of brass and highly decorative music rests.
1900
Grand pianos were mostly over-strung
Heyday for imported German pianos
Dual tapered legs "gate legs" became more popular with matching lyre
Six legs with brass "bucket" castors that formed the lower leg
Some grand pianos had an 'H' frame joining front legs
Cabinet: Burr walnut, rosewood and mahogany
Introduction to the 88 note keyboard / ivory or celluloid key tops
1914 less imported pianos except for the well known makes
1918
All grand pianos over-strung
Three single square tapered legs
Choice of top lid prop sticks
Matching column pedal lyres
Introduction to the middle (sostenuto) pedal
Generally grand pianos now adhered to this style
with odd exceptions to other cabinet styles
All grand pianos over-strung
Three single square tapered legs
Choice of top lid prop sticks
Matching column pedal lyres
Introduction to the middle (sostenuto) pedal
Generally grand pianos now adhered to this style
with odd exceptions to other cabinet styles
1930
The art deco period gave rise to particular designs of grand piano
Many were sold with matching stools
The art deco period gave rise to particular designs of grand piano
Many were sold with matching stools
1970s style GRAND PIANO
Polyester 'high shine' finish starts to become popular
The correct way to describe a grand piano is by its length, measured from the front
of the keyboard to the back of the top lid, in feet and inches
UPRIGHT PIANOS
Upright piano designs changed more frequently than grand pianos; because of their size and price, they are more popular in the family home. Some tall upright pianos had longer strings than grand pianos !
Various upright pianos had casework names like 'Console' (meaning a small upright), or 'Mini' , and 'Studio' .... some names relate to the height of an upright piano and described in relation to this. The correct way to describe an upright piano is by its height, measured from the side of the piano, from floor to top lid. Some pianos are described according to their leg design (i.e. cottage piano) - not necessarily being smaller than a console, but the name taken from the period when built.
1860
CABINET PIANO
As the square piano was still developed, it saw the birth of some bizarre shaped
pianos - cabinet pianos. Losing the 'square' look, some pianos had very tall cabinets.
This example has been known to be nick-named the "giraffe" piano.
Various other cabinet pianos had glass panels and doors with draped curtain
material behind the glass. As the strings are now vertical, these were called vertical or upright pianos, and even "vertical grands".
The mechanism required tall "stickers" to work the mechanism
Cabinet: Rosewood, mahogany
CABINET PIANO
As the square piano was still developed, it saw the birth of some bizarre shaped
pianos - cabinet pianos. Losing the 'square' look, some pianos had very tall cabinets.
This example has been known to be nick-named the "giraffe" piano.
Various other cabinet pianos had glass panels and doors with draped curtain
material behind the glass. As the strings are now vertical, these were called vertical or upright pianos, and even "vertical grands".
The mechanism required tall "stickers" to work the mechanism
Cabinet: Rosewood, mahogany
1800 - 1850
CABINET / COTTAGE PIANO
Although correctly named a cabinet piano, these early instruments became synonymous
with the cottage style of piano, having separate turned spindled legs, and were often
called cottage pianos.
Some cabinet pianos had ornate wooden panelling, and others had beautifully draped
and pleated silk, either in front of a wooden panel, or behind a glass cabinet facia or
two hinged doors.
An cabinet piano similar to this one can be viewed in the Bronte Museum, Haworth,
West Yorkshire, dated around 1815 (restored). Hear it being played ........
Learn more ......
CABINET / COTTAGE PIANO
Although correctly named a cabinet piano, these early instruments became synonymous
with the cottage style of piano, having separate turned spindled legs, and were often
called cottage pianos.
Some cabinet pianos had ornate wooden panelling, and others had beautifully draped
and pleated silk, either in front of a wooden panel, or behind a glass cabinet facia or
two hinged doors.
An cabinet piano similar to this one can be viewed in the Bronte Museum, Haworth,
West Yorkshire, dated around 1815 (restored). Hear it being played ........
Learn more ......
1880
COTTAGE PIANO
This was the heyday for the proper upright piano, still in existence today.
Straight-strung with an over-damped mechanism
Either: Wooden framed / metal brace bars supporting a wood frame
Or: Three-quarter cast iron frame
Tapered legs supporting the keyboard only (no feet)
Decorative front panels / fret work / silk material backing
Up-turned concertina music rest that folded away
[Many are not tuneable today, so always get it checked over]
1900 1920 1930
(Above) Left: 1900s. Imported German pianos became popular. Superior quality and sound due to being over-strung.
Round or square column legs, supported under the keyboard and secured to projected feet.
Sides of the top cabinet trusses often matched the cheeks in a flowing line.
Cabinet: Figured walnut, rosewood or ebony veneer
Middle: 1920s: Good English made pianos/ over-strung and under-damped.
But also a huge amount of cheap "furniture" pianos / straight - strung and over-damped
Good quality pianos usually had brass inlaid names / cheaper versions had stencil transfer names on the fallboard
Front panel varied between single frame, double or treble. Brass sconces / Mother of Pearl / Wood inlaid floral designs
In-turned curved legs, secured to the keyboard, bottom panel and feet.
German names had separate music rest hinged to fallboard
English names had a fold away concertina style music rest that hung from the top panel, inside top lid.
Right: 1930s: Smaller pianos / art deco became popular, such as the Mini piano. (E.g. Eavestaff)
Looked just like a writing desk when top lid closed
Mechanism and strings at the back of the piano, and difficult to tune
Tuning pins concealed inside a trap door under the keyboard
Kick plate for pedals, and pedals were often hexagonal or square shaped
Cabinet: Solid oak, rosewood (not veneered) or veneered ebony, with matching stool
Side panels only / no legs or castors (some later models fitted with castors)
Some good quality mini pianos (Mini Royale) had fluted chrome 240 volt candle bulb sconces
[Most of these pianos are difficult to regulate & tune, so always get them checked over]
(Above) Left: 1900s. Imported German pianos became popular. Superior quality and sound due to being over-strung.
Round or square column legs, supported under the keyboard and secured to projected feet.
Sides of the top cabinet trusses often matched the cheeks in a flowing line.
Cabinet: Figured walnut, rosewood or ebony veneer
Middle: 1920s: Good English made pianos/ over-strung and under-damped.
But also a huge amount of cheap "furniture" pianos / straight - strung and over-damped
Good quality pianos usually had brass inlaid names / cheaper versions had stencil transfer names on the fallboard
Front panel varied between single frame, double or treble. Brass sconces / Mother of Pearl / Wood inlaid floral designs
In-turned curved legs, secured to the keyboard, bottom panel and feet.
German names had separate music rest hinged to fallboard
English names had a fold away concertina style music rest that hung from the top panel, inside top lid.
Right: 1930s: Smaller pianos / art deco became popular, such as the Mini piano. (E.g. Eavestaff)
Looked just like a writing desk when top lid closed
Mechanism and strings at the back of the piano, and difficult to tune
Tuning pins concealed inside a trap door under the keyboard
Kick plate for pedals, and pedals were often hexagonal or square shaped
Cabinet: Solid oak, rosewood (not veneered) or veneered ebony, with matching stool
Side panels only / no legs or castors (some later models fitted with castors)
Some good quality mini pianos (Mini Royale) had fluted chrome 240 volt candle bulb sconces
[Most of these pianos are difficult to regulate & tune, so always get them checked over]
1940 - 1950 1960 - 1970
Above left: 1940s Few pianos were made due to WWII, and those available were rebuilt and re-styled older instruments
Rounded corners, curved or round-framed legs / plain front panel with no mouldings or decoration
Ivory keys less common and replaced with plastic acrylic or grained celluloid. Examples: Challen, Hopkinson.
Above right: 1960s The emergence of the small modern upright piano, over-strung & under-damped.
Over-damped pianos became obsolete around the 1960s and replaced with under-damped.
Sloping front panels / no legs / 85 or 88 note keyboard. Examples: Knight, Kemble, Zender, Bentley
Commonly referred to as "school pianos" (light oak) since these pianos were less attractive, and supposedly less appealing to be vandalised !
1965 to present day
MODERN UPRIGHT CONSOLE PIANO
Foreign imported pianos from Japan come to Britain in large numbers;
Examples: Yamaha / Kawai
Polyester 'high gloss' mirror finishes
Reflecting on the 1920s leg design
Clean and simple lines / panelling
Higher quality models (e.g. Kawai K5) having front acoustic port holes
Combination of wood and carbon fibre mechanisms
Middle practise pedal / Soft - close fallboard mechanism
Use this simple chart below as an estimate to the outline and shape of your piano - just a guide only.
MODERN UPRIGHT CONSOLE PIANO
Foreign imported pianos from Japan come to Britain in large numbers;
Examples: Yamaha / Kawai
Polyester 'high gloss' mirror finishes
Reflecting on the 1920s leg design
Clean and simple lines / panelling
Higher quality models (e.g. Kawai K5) having front acoustic port holes
Combination of wood and carbon fibre mechanisms
Middle practise pedal / Soft - close fallboard mechanism
Use this simple chart below as an estimate to the outline and shape of your piano - just a guide only.
MISCELLANEOUS PIANOS (Early)
Between various piano designs saw many innovations of the period when they were built.
Some pianos did other 'jobs' - others sounded like a piano, but had no keyboard or piano look to it.
Some pianos looked like a piano, but sounded like a music box.
Here are a few selections >>
1900 - 1930
PLAYER PIANO
Nick named the "Pianola" (but incorrect) - the piano that plays itself
Many upright and grand pianos in the early 1900s were specifically designed with two internal mechanisms. Rear mechanism consisted of the hammers, undercarriages and dampers - like a normal piano. Front mechanism consisted of various air suction chambers, tubes, pipes, bellows and a central stack unit with a spool (tracker) bar and gears/ sprockets & chains. Specially designed paper rolls (with holes punched out) would be inserted onto the tracker bar. The pianist would simply pump two pedals with their feet to generate air suction, and the piano would play by itself. Fully working player pianos are becoming difficult to find now unless restored.
The upright player piano (left above) has a sliding trap door at the top to reveal the winding paper roll, and the bottom trap door reveals the pumping pedals that fold out. When folded away, the player becomes a normal piano again. The front key rail is hinged and reveals a whole host of levers to play/ rewind the paper roll, and even adding expression to the music such as tempo changes, louds and softs, and sustain pedal - all activated manually by hand.
PLAYER PIANO
Nick named the "Pianola" (but incorrect) - the piano that plays itself
Many upright and grand pianos in the early 1900s were specifically designed with two internal mechanisms. Rear mechanism consisted of the hammers, undercarriages and dampers - like a normal piano. Front mechanism consisted of various air suction chambers, tubes, pipes, bellows and a central stack unit with a spool (tracker) bar and gears/ sprockets & chains. Specially designed paper rolls (with holes punched out) would be inserted onto the tracker bar. The pianist would simply pump two pedals with their feet to generate air suction, and the piano would play by itself. Fully working player pianos are becoming difficult to find now unless restored.
The upright player piano (left above) has a sliding trap door at the top to reveal the winding paper roll, and the bottom trap door reveals the pumping pedals that fold out. When folded away, the player becomes a normal piano again. The front key rail is hinged and reveals a whole host of levers to play/ rewind the paper roll, and even adding expression to the music such as tempo changes, louds and softs, and sustain pedal - all activated manually by hand.
1900s
BARREL PIANO
A real working piano with hammers & strings, but no keyboard. Barrel pianos were popular at fair grounds as they were easily transported on two wheels.
(Above) The 'pianist' would wind a crank lever, which would then turn a large internal 'music roll' barrel with metal tabs sticking out.
Like a music box, as each tab passed the mechanism, it would connect with a hammer, which would then hit the string.
Very difficult to tune accurately as each string had to be plucked by hand, and there were no dampers.
Some barrel pianos have ornate mirror panels and have a repertoire of several tunes.
BARREL PIANO
A real working piano with hammers & strings, but no keyboard. Barrel pianos were popular at fair grounds as they were easily transported on two wheels.
(Above) The 'pianist' would wind a crank lever, which would then turn a large internal 'music roll' barrel with metal tabs sticking out.
Like a music box, as each tab passed the mechanism, it would connect with a hammer, which would then hit the string.
Very difficult to tune accurately as each string had to be plucked by hand, and there were no dampers.
Some barrel pianos have ornate mirror panels and have a repertoire of several tunes.
Early 1900s
CELESTE
Oak cabinet with a 4 octave keyboard and sustain pedal
Instead of hammers striking strings, they would strike metal 'bell' bars,
similar in sound to a glockenspiel
Occasionally used in orchestral music for special effects
This is not a piano, as it doesn't have strings
Early 1900s
VIRGIL
A practise keyboard with weighted keys in a "brief case" cabinet.
Very popular in early days for Concert Pianists to do some right hand practise
on the Orient Express prior to their recital.
Some virgils could be mounted onto square tapered supports
Basically a portable silent piano with no strings or mechanism
VIRGIL
A practise keyboard with weighted keys in a "brief case" cabinet.
Very popular in early days for Concert Pianists to do some right hand practise
on the Orient Express prior to their recital.
Some virgils could be mounted onto square tapered supports
Basically a portable silent piano with no strings or mechanism
1840s
EUPHONICON
A rare piano of museum quality with an extended bass lyre.
The frame is formed entirely of iron arranged to withstand the immense tension of the
strings. Many were highly ornamented with Japanese figures, pearl and gold pencilling.
Background set on blue or crimson and chased with ormolu design/ open figure designs.
Very elegant of the period, but nowadays cannot be played, only viewed through a glass case.
One of these fine instruments sold at Phillips Auctions, London, in 1988 for £3000.00
EUPHONICON
A rare piano of museum quality with an extended bass lyre.
The frame is formed entirely of iron arranged to withstand the immense tension of the
strings. Many were highly ornamented with Japanese figures, pearl and gold pencilling.
Background set on blue or crimson and chased with ormolu design/ open figure designs.
Very elegant of the period, but nowadays cannot be played, only viewed through a glass case.
One of these fine instruments sold at Phillips Auctions, London, in 1988 for £3000.00
1800 - 1900
ORCHESTRION
Mechanically similar to a player piano with paper rolls, and sounding like a piano.
These beautiful instruments were fully automated (some coin operated) with a selection of
piano, organ, bells and percussion instruments.
Operated with either foot or electric bellows, these instruments had various glass panels that lit up, and sounded like a full orchestra - hence Orchestrion
c.1915
ORGAPIAN
A cross between a reed organ and an upright piano.
Used extensively for silent movies
Electric blower mounted to the side
Some models were fitted with drums, cymbals, triangle and a Chinese gong for special effects.
