The grinnell brothers ended up selling the business in 1955, but it was still known as the largest piano retailer in the 1960s. Pianomarts extensive inventory includes literally hundreds of new and secondhand pianos crafted by piano makers large and small, from a. There are times when your piano or number is not listed. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle. The piano business was a hit and before long, the company had outgrown. Grinnell brothersgrand and baby grand pianos sweeney piano. The square piano, with strings parallel to the keys, was the most popular domestic piano until the early19thcentury perfection, in philadelphia, of the upright piano.
After an illustrated discussion of piano structure that explains the workings of both grand and upright pianos, the book gives careful advice for purchasing a new or used piano. Currently, holly is the home of bars leak, delta tube, phyle industries, and universal data. Photograph courtesy of the detroit historical society. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. Whether youre looking for a grand piano for chamber music recitals or jazz concert performances, or an upright piano for a school or home setting, we have literally hundreds of options for you to peruse. Grinnell brothers antique cabinet upright upright piano, music. A few years ago, a friend bought a metal clarinet at an antique shop for me to make into a lamp. Aeolian weber duoart grand player piano grinnell mar 23. By 1901, grinnell brothers was one of michigans largest piano and general music dealers, and the company began opening. Steinway model m ebony gloss grand piano 57 1918,1920,1934 bluthner. Haines brothers was known for building high quality, lovely sounding instruments and they. Discover your pianos age and country of origin with our 5 star accuracy guide to ensure the quality and. It was listed on the national register of historic places in 1984.
Grinnell brothers built their first pianos in 1902, starting with traditional upright and baby grand pianos. This is the answer and the only free publication to provide this information in the piano industry. Over the years, grinnells went from selling parlor organs to grand pianos to spinets. How much is my piano worth age and manufacturer are obviously important factors to be considered in appraising an instrument. On the medal components on the inside it says sterling co. List of books and articles about piano history online. The rich history of the petrof trademark began in 1864 with the firms founder. Each piano is manufactured with a unique serial number that is recorded for future reference of not only when it was made but also where. Sweeney piano grinnell brothersgrand and baby grand pianos manfacturing information for grinnell brothers grand and baby grand pianos, including company history, factory location, serial number dates. I grew up in the detroit area in the 60s and 70s and grinnell bros was a major retailer of musical instruments.
Great deals on upright pianos with 88 keys and 3 pedals. She was a member of the fenton united methodist church. It was listed on the national register of historic places in 1984 history. If you insist on buying a square piano, you should look at it strictly as a piece of furniture. Upright pianos with 88 keys and 3 pedals for sale in stock. Nopd 1965 grinnell bros spinet piano the tone rooms. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. My late mother played for years, from the early twenties and into the nineties. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The company was headquarted in detroit, michigan and had its piano factory in holly, michigan.
Two interesting and important books have been published in the interest of the haines bros. Your pianos age is one of the most significant factors in determining your pianos value. They moved the company to ypsilanti in 1882, and started. As the boom time for michigan lumber decreased, other businesses took their place. Im just getting to it you know how that is and wondered about the brand. Its a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at. So i recommend this to any one who wants to understand this thing we all do. Bluebook of pianos piano information and appraisal, piano. Not long after in the 1960s, grinnell had over 35 stores selling pianos in addition to other instruments. An unusually wellbuilt and thoroughly reliable instrument which carries the guarantee of both grinnell bros. Free piano prices guide new or used fair market value. Real identity of a grinnell brothers grand piano piano.
As i am in love with the piano i would not be selling but would like to know if it has any real history to it ira. The english piano maker john broadwood 17321812 was the first to develop the present heavier, more sonorous instrument. Louis kamper, the german architect who brought you the book cadillac, the book tower, broderick tower and the hecker house. They continued to produce pianos in their us factory until 1961.
The instrument, the music, the musiciansfrom mozart to modern jazz and everything in between isacoff, stuart on. As an amazon associate i earn from any qualifying purchases made via these links. The antique piano shop is restoring parts of our musical. They produced a solid piano that was of average quality. Most piano professionals have access to detailed information about these brands using a piano atlas to reference serial numbers, which are used to determine a piano s age using the year a piano was built. Pianomart offers an impressive selection of used and secondhand pianos for sale.
Grinnell started a music business in ann arbor, michigan. Jan 08, 2017 she married charles paul jones on january 30, 1984 in fenton and he preceded her in death on february, 20. Piano buyer is the definitive guide for buying a new piano. They moved the company to ypsilanti in 1882, and started manufacturing their. The new york tribune, in commenting on the comprehensive display of the baldwin company at paris, and the success of this piano and this house, said that they made a record that would never he forgot in the history of uprights, grands and reproducing pianos, the grands including the various sizes from concert grands to small grands for parlors. Many of these piano brand names are stencil pianos, which means that the company which owns the brand name is simply applying the name to a piano manufactured for them by another company, and that the same or very similar. This article is a list of piano brand names from all over the world. You can look up a free piano serial number history search from this page see list of. Songs about grinnell, written by grinnellians, evoke the traditions and timeless essence of the college. Clicking on the number will take you to a systems page which may have a short description of that action along with pictures or drawings if available. Upright pianos with 88 keys and 3 pedals for sale in. During the first quarter of the 20th century, grinnell brothers increased their line of pianos to incorporate several models of upright, baby grand and player pianos, while at the same time slowly phasing out their organ production.
The company was at a high and bought the sanders building located next door in 1963. Grinnells president, jack wainger, felt confident about his business telling the detroit free press that, downtown detroit is coming back as a place to shop. Almost all of them include the serial number on the plate in a small window near the tuning pins. The instrument, the music, the musicians from mozart to modern jazz and everything in between by stuart isacoff isbn. For the first 20 years, they built a nice selection of square grand pianos before building their first upright pianos in 1870. The grinnell brothers music building is a reminder of the companys history that is somewhat similar to the city it is located within. Albert avery grinnell was part of the piano manufacturing grinnell brothers family, although the founding grinnell brothers ira and clayton preceded him by a few generations.
Chickering pianos for sale buy a chickering piano at. It is used extensively as a source book in the piano business by both consumers and members of the trade. Made by winter for the grinnell retail stores, and there were many. View of several men in store showroom with grand piano. Grinnells pianos and the worlds largest mass piano concerts. Grinnell was originally established in 1882 as an organ manufacturer under the name of grinnell brothers. If you are buying or selling an upright or grand piano, discover the prices of new pianos or current resale market value of used pianos, any brand, right now. This history takes us back to the piano s humble genesis. Still plays piano rolls well and all keys are in good condition.
Wurlitzer was the grinnell brothers biggest competition, but even with a competitor their business continued to expand with over 40 stores in the united states and ontario, hence the need for 3 different factories. Discover your piano s age and country of origin with our 5 star accuracy guide to ensure the quality and. If you cant locate it here, look inside to the far left or far right as some. Jan 01, 2011 a celebration of the piano pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. Piano serial numbers identify the 1 age of your piano, the 2 piano s year of manufacture, as well as 3 the circumstances surrounding the production of your piano, including factory history, manufacturing processes, and company ownership and oversight. The instrument, the music, the musiciansfrom mozart to modern jazz and everything in between. Pianos manufactured in the victorian era to the great depression. Grinnell brothers produced pianos, organs and other music related items like sheet music. Piano factory in holly and retired as a machine operator for general motors for 14 years. They had their own house brand of piano that im sure was a stencil made by another maker. Detroit, not sure of the year but 4227 is on a tag inside. Pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. This neat paper on cardboard front advertising pocket mirror was a giveaway from the grinnell bros.
This is an online only auction that begins closing on to be determined the entire auction will take approximately 2 12 hours to close and closes within the range of 2030 items per minute. Grinnell brothers music building detroit localwiki. Jan 15, 2014 i have an upright player piano, grinnell bros. Your piano s age is one of the most significant factors in determining your piano s value. Jul 23, 2011 i am trying to determine the age of my piano by using the serial number. Hall 121669 440 all keys and strings are 100% intactit has a few nicks and cracks but in no way inhibits the performance. I am trying to determine the age of my piano by using the. A little known historical fact is that an albrecht piano was located in. Compare what is described in the page against the player action in your piano. In 1994, 15 years after grinnell s closed, a new firm, grinnell bros.
In l872 ira grinnell founded his piano firm in ann arbor. The number will usually be a 4 to 7 digit number, but may include a letter or two. I have an upright piano made by grinnell brothers serial number 5583912 found on wood interior. One page has barely visible prices writtern in pencil that have been mostly erased. The history of the piano by elda dellinger nook book ebook. Heinz company, grinnell brothers piano factory, the hartz spring factory and lane cyclone fence factory were once all located here. Appears to include all original parts, includes a number of duoart player piano rolls. Browse our available selection, or use our filters to refine your search by size, price, location, distance from you, or color. The grinnell brothers piano manufacturing company was established in detroit, michigan in 1882, first making organs and then. The age of your piano is determined by the serial number. Many of these piano brand names are stencil pianos, which means that the company which owns the brand name is simply applying the name to a piano manufactured for them by another company. We provide free retail price lists, free age of your piano, free information for all.
This list also includes names of old instruments which are no longer in production. To locate the serial number on a vertical piano, open the top and look inside. My girlfriends parents bought her this 1964 or 1965 grinnell bros spinet piano when she was about 12. The grinnell brothers music house is a commercial building located at 27 south saginaw street in pontiac, michigan.
The online pioneer bookshop is open for business while we are social distancing. Just as a matter of interest to any history buffs, the grinnell concern opened a number of music stores in the early sixties in the thennew shopping. I never learned how to play the piano, but always thought i had the aptitude, though not the skill. Haines brothers piano company was established in 1851 by napoleon j. This handome grave is the final resting place of clayton grinnell, who formed one half along with his brother ira of the grinnell brothers company. This book tells you everything, and i mean everything, about the history of the piano. Pianos were manufactured in windsor until the mid 1940s. You might want to consult pianists, piano teachers and piano tuners. I am trying to determine the age of my piano by using the serial number. These instruments were really a rectangular box and were often very ornate, however, they were poor musical instruments even when they were new and most piano tuners refuse to even attempt to work on them.
A modern legacy exhibition, which runs through dec. She had worked at a dime store in fenton, grinnell bros. Nopd 1965 grinnell bros spinet piano page 2 the tone rooms. Specialist steinway piano dealer, trader and wholesaler. Antique, steinway upright piano for sale with a rosewood case. The instrument, the music, the musicians from mozart to modern jazz and everything in between at a seemingly odd place well in the middle of the story. The grinnell brothers piano company was established in 1882 and produced pianos for close to a century. One of the most difficult questions a piano tuner has to answer is the one above. The number is for the first piano made in year shown. Discontinued 1960 at 58890 if yours is a modern piano and your number is right,it then makes it a stencil. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch.
A celebration of the piano pianist and author stuart isacoff begins his new book, a natural history of the piano. Each number represents a different player piano action. Chickering pianos are a popular choice for students, home enthusiasts and professional musicians alike. Attempts to trace the ownership history of the piano to determine who might have stashed the coins inside it went nowhere. The piano is a godsend, and a whole world of new experience. The antique piano shop is restoring parts of our musical heritage with. Music store in detroit michigan it measures approx. A fascinating celebration of the piano, including tales of its masters from mozart and beethoven to oscar peterson and jerry lee lewis, told with the expertise of composer and author of temperament, stuart isacoff. This mausoleum was designed by the lloyd brothers of toledo, oh, and includes the family crest above the door. The performance, which will feature associate professor of music eugene gaub, is free and open to the public. You can find the year below that your piano was made and the manufacturer in most cases. The bluebook of pianos is an invaluable handbook for anyone who owns or plans to buy a piano.
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