Hello: I'm new to the forum and look forward to participating.

I am looking for information on what is marked as a B&L console piano. My big stumbling block is the serial number. It is
118041, I'm sure this is the s/n since the removable case sections are marked with this number or just " 041 ". From my research I have one number too many.

The piano is 41 inches high, 57 inches wide, and 24 inches deep.
There is a Bush & Lane decal on the keyboard cover and Bush & Lane Piano Co. is embossed on the upper right side of the cast frame. The pedals are attached like a grand piano, they are separate from the case and attached with a musical symbol shaped device. The piano is very similar to a "Winter Spinet" I have seen advertised.

Hope someone can give me a lead. Thanks. Steve

I can tell you a few things about your piano, as for the full detail, I think someone on this forum with a more recent edition (after the 10th) of the Pierce Piano Atlas might verify things for you. For instance if the serial number is indeed 118041, the piano in question was built long after the original American company ceased operations, that is it was made sometime after 1930 and since the 10th edition (1995) of the Piano Atlas doesn't list any serials higher than 63000 and no date past their discontinuation in 1931. Then the said piano was made at least after 1995, with the stencil duly acquired, so that the serial numbers could have any traceable meaning, probably somewhere in Asia by some industrial combine which might own one or several piano companies. My honest guess is that said piano is a decorative spinet with the B&L stencil on it, the design etc. having nothing directly associated with the original firm which I believe was out of Holland, Michigan. I've run across a few of their large uprights from their first decade 1902-1912 that were … big upright pianos. I'd guess the country of origin as South Korea.

I've had the piano since 1980 and it was in our family for at least 30 years before that. There is more information as to the manufacturer of the action and some other numbers on the cast frame.

No one in our family plays so the piano has just existed as a piece of furniture. I've tried to give it away but since the action needed some work no one wanted it. It was a couple days from going to the junk yard when I decided to repair the action and clean it up.

I'm hoping some one may want it after the work is finished, if not it goes to piano heaven. Thanks for your information. Steve

Could it be that B&L added a digit to the front or back of the serial numbers when they were manufactured in a different location, or designated for a specific (export?) market?

I ask this because my Ibach console (1970) and that of my parents (1966) have serial numbers that are one digit short for this time period. Both were manufactured under license from Ibach, in a South African factory. If I add a "1" in front, then they fit into the German Ibach serial numbers. So it appears as though the South African factory simply cut the first digit for the local production. (In theory, somewhere in the world there is (or was) another, much older, Ibach with the same serial number as mine...)

Perhaps B&L did something similar, and tacked on an extra digit for certain models, markets or production sites?

Just guessing here...

I've wondered if an extra digit was added for some reason. I believe it would be the first "1" since 041 is hand marked on some pieces. There are two other numbers embossed on the frame.
Right bottom 51 6 23
Right middle 350
The action has a manufacturers decal. " Comstock,Cheney & Co.
Ivorytown, Conn.

I should have the piano put back together tomorrow, I would like to post a couple pictures but I don't understand the procedure for this forum regarding pictures. Thanks

Steve, it's easiest to store the pictures on some external web hosting service, e.g. Picasa., then copy the location of the picture and use the "image" tags:

[img][/img]

Put the URL of the picture between the two tags, and it will be displayed in your post.

If you don't have access to a web host, search the archives of this forum on how to attach pictures.

trying to learn photo attachment Bush & Lane Piano

Would someone please see if they can access my photos.

You can use the Pianoworld upload service here to host a photo. When you get the address for the photo, you can use the Enter An Image button in the full reply screen to imbed it in a message.

You cannot add an attachment to a message.

Testing to see if direct embedding works (get the embed code from the host site you use for uploading your image, paste the embed code here and select "using HTML and UBBCode" in the drop menu below the response space here):

From Yamaha P22

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/118421213373325016199[/img]

[img:center]https://picasaweb.google.com/118421213373325016199[/img]

I tried using your link above but there seems to be some issue with it. You should get the link to the pic by going to "link to the image" icon to the right of the picasa page and not just copy the url as you see it, I think.

I surrender to technology, I can't figure out how to post the pictures. Picaso seemed to take over my computer so I removed it. Maybe this weekend my grandson will do it for me. Thank you all for the help. If anyone wants to see the pictures e-mail me at sdkenish@gmail.com and I'll send them to you. Thanks again.
Steve

Here are the pics (sent to me by Steve):

From Steve_PW_Bush&Lane

From Steve_PW_Bush&Lane

From Steve_PW_Bush&Lane

That third pic seems squashed horizontally. I tried other things but give up. This should be enough though for people to be able to comment on what piano this is!

It is a stencil piano, probably an Aeolian console. You can see how the Bush & Lane is a separate plate bolted onto the piano's plate. I would guess that it dates between 1945 and 1955.

In case it's still relevant:



In principle, as far as the linking is concerned, yes, but the album is not public. You have to change this in your Picasa album settings.

Whenever I need to host a picture somewhere I do not go to Piacasa because by default Picasa want to index and control every damn picture you have on your computer (This is probably what stevedk meant when he said it seemed like it was trying to "take over" his computer).
That is absolutely ridiculous when all you want is to host a single picture in order to post it on a forum. Also, it being owned by Google, they claim that they have the rights to use any of your photos in any way they want.

(Terms of Service:11.2 You agree that this licence includes a right for Google to make such Content available to other companies, organizations or individuals with whom Google has relationships for the provision of syndicated
services, and to use such Content in connection with the provision of those services.
That means, ANY picture or photo on your computer apparently.

Instead I go to www.imageshack.com and just upload the picture I an concerned with and it also supplies the link that you can then post here.

Or if you don't want to use imageshack for whatever reason you can Google "free image hosting" and you will get links to lots of free sites where you can easily host a picture for posting on this (or any) forum without having to give total access to your computer like you have to with Picasa.

Thanks Sparky, I'll try imageshack next time.

Hello and thanks to everyone who offered advice on my "maybe" Bush & Lane piano. I'm not 100% sure of what the thing is, I've researched the "stencil" option but am at a dead end. I hope someone is able to suggest a path I can take. One thing I failed to mention is that the piano has a chair instead of a bench. The chair is mahogany with the "lyre" symbol as part of the back.

I have some improved pictures available if anyone is interested,
e-mail me at sdkenish@gmail.com

New info on my Bush & Lane. I removed the B/L nameplate and found this. " Weser Bros. New York " embossed on the frame. I hope the 118041 serial number matches Weser but so far haven't found a list of their serial numbers. Going to keep digging.

Steve

Weser Bros. 118041 would be just before production shut down for WWII, about 1941, the period I thought it might be.

You nailed this one, and I thank you for the help. I'm going to see about getting it tuned and if it plays well maybe then someone will want it. Steve

I believe I have the same piano as you do. I started researching Bush and Lane and found your photos online. We're you able to find out any additional information?