help identify mystery piano

[shio2010]

Hi, Pls see the photos. Can you help identify the age/brand of this old piano? It was given to us as a gift. Looks like somebody tried to restore it...

[timoth]

hi, im not sure but seems to be a baldwin hamilton is a nice brand

[keys60]

Are you in the US?
Pretty piano.

[shio2010]

I'm in Canada. Yes, this is a very pretty mystery piano, with 6 sticky keys and in need of a tuning... Any more ideas about possible age and maker?!
 
I love antique pianos and wholeheartedly wish I had the space and money or skills to rescue and restore the ones so many folks end up sending to the dump!

[silverwoodpianos]

Evans Bros possibly; a tech would have to pull the action to be sure of that; if the action is made by A.A.Barthelmes & Co. then it is indeed an Evan Bros instrument. If the action is made by Otto Higel & Co then it could be a Bell Piano and Organ or perhaps a Willis & Co.

The numbers 19338 do not line up very well in the time period for Evans Bros. This would mean the instrument made in 1929 which is late for this type of build, with the open style plate. The only reason I am thinking Evans is because I have one here with the identical front leg and plate style.

The numbers 19338 for Bell are 1908 which is better for that style of build. Also there might be a date written on the back of the action when it was installed into the instrument. This could help with dating….usually the open block would have been from 1895-1910

Pretty difficult to tell from here; I presume the name is no longer there?

[shio2010]

Not sure of the parts of a piano, nor where to look for a name/number other than as pictured previously, and this photo (attached).
I haven't found a name on the front of the piano and wonder why that would be...

How/ where does a piano technician determine the action maker?
TX!

[silverwoodpianos]

Not sure of the parts of a piano, nor where to look for a name/number other than as pictured previously, and this photo (attached).

a tech would have to pull the action to be sure of that.

I haven't found a name on the front of the piano and wonder why that would be...

Because someone attempted to refinish the piano.

How/ where does a piano technician determine the action maker?
TX!

a tech would have to pull the action to be sure of that.

[shio2010]

Sorry, what do you mean by "pull the action"?!

[silverwoodpianos]

the mechanism that plays the string set when you strike the key set.......

https://www.infovisual.info/04/025_en.html

[shio2010]

FYI,

I paid for a professional technical assessment. Results:

-It is a TIRED piano, formerly subjected to an extremely dry environment and then a very damp one.
-Possibly a 'Dominion' piano.
-Will cost $600-$700 to return to playable (not concert) condition.
-Consider buying a used one instead of restoring this one.

[silverwoodpianos]

I would say no to the Dominion part; the serial number 5 digit starting 19xxx is too late for this type of open pin block style. For Dominion numbers this would have to be after the first war; full plate was the common build by then.

The open pin block style was popular previous to 1910 or so….. for Bell Piano and Organ this would put the instrument around 1907 which is a better time period……

Also Bell used those big nickel plated lag bolts to hold the top end in place, along with the painted plate decorations.

Also the cabinet is typically a Bell product with the double front leg and decorative front board.

 Dominion pianos were more utilitarian in their cabinet styles…..

The action maker inside would assist in the determination of who built the product.