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Hi,
I purchased a baby grand that has a Chickering decal on the front. My piano tech (with much experience and knowledge) says it is definitely not a Chickering piano. He is certain that the piano was refinished at some point and someone just put a Chickering label on it. These decals are easy to find on ebay, etc. And, I agree. And, (BTW)I knew this when I purchased the piano so I did not pay a "Chickering" price.

Now its time to find out who actually made it. The only identifying feature is the crest (coat of arms) embossed on the plate. It does not have a manufacturers name. So I will describe it in detail

First, it is a square-ish shield with a crown on top. Below the shield is a horizontal bar approx. 3" long x ~3/8" tall that a manufacturers name (or nameplate) could have been engraved or applied. It is blank (devoid of any script). Below that it states "established 1892"

The shield has lions on their hind legs on either side of it that are as tall as the shield. Their bodies are facing the shield, their heads are turned so they are facing away from the shield. They have their tongues out.

The shield is divided into four equal quadrants by a thin maltese cross. Inside the upper left and lower right quadrant there are three small crowns. Inside the upper right and lower left quadrant there are three diagonal lines.

Also note, that there is a serial number hand etched into the sound board. It is C153078.

Other than this info, there are no other identifying features.

Does anyone have any idea who the manufacturer is?

Below should be the link to the pic of the crest.

thanks
Steve

The logo looks a bit like Petrof's but they are too old:



Two companies that I know of that were established in 1892 were Schiller of Chicago and Becker Bros. of New York. There were others. I just don't know of them.

I hope that helps a little.

Chickering Brothers was also established in 1892... They were in Chicago (Chickering and Sons was in Boston).

It might help to post some more pictures of the entire piano and some details of the action, bridges, etc.

Piano pseudo-heraldry is an interesting topic.

Of course! I knew that. It just didn't come to mind. Shoot. That is most likely what it is, IMHO.

....that was embarrassing, wasn't it?