I recently bought a Newman Brothers upright Piano. Can someone tell me a little more about the company and the pianos. Are these Pianos hard to find? What would one be worth? I paid $100 for the one I got. Thanks

Otis.

They were well built intruments.
If yours is in good condition overall you stole that piano, otherwise you got ripped off.
Have a tech, check the piano.

The Piano Atlas lists three different companies called Newman Brothers.

The first is listed as having been at 806 Dix St., Chicago. Est 1880; serial numbers are listed for pianos built in 1913-1925. They also made organs.

The second has no location, but if you piano says something other than Chicago, it was probably built by this company. Serial numbers for thes pianos are listed for years 1890 through 1905.

The third just says "Newman Bros, Baltimore, 1850, affiliated with W. P. Talbot."

Not much here, but if you list the serial number I will try to look up the year of manufacture for you.

Enjoy!

Thanks guys, I am picking it up this weekend and will look for serial numbers and names. I will report back Monday. Thanks for your help.

Otis

Hey Guys I have some information on the Newman Bros piano. The serial number is 12786. Inside the piano is says "NEWMAN BROS. CO. CHICAGO. OVERSTRUNG. GRAND." Written in pencil above the serial number it has a persons name and some dates (April '03, Aug. '04, Sept. '05). I assume these were the servicing dates.
The piano has a beautiful full sound, although it does need a little tuning and a few of the keys don't work. Overall the woodwork is good, the stain is a little warn, and it has a few scratches on it, otherwise its in decent condition. I have a few pictures, I can email them if you want to see what it looks like just let me know. Thanks.

Otis

I've got a similar Newman Bros piano. Can I find out the year of manufacture, too?

Newman Bros Co., Chicago, IL
Overstrung Grand
Serial No.: 15009

Newman Brothers Piano Company of Chicago was found by 3 Swedish born brothers, John A, Gustav R and Charles W Newman. All were born "Nyman." Charles W. was my great grandfather. The company was the winner of a best patent award at the Worlds Fair Exibition at the turn of the cenntury. A book "Swedes in Illinois" states that the company was one of the largest Swedish run enterprises in the country. In fact in some old pictures you can see many railroad cars on the Newman Brothers property that help give perspective to the fact that this was a large company. The three brothers lived in 3 now historic greystone mansions on Orchard Street in Chicago. My grandmother and my father lived in the same house when they were young. The family came from a line of famous craftsman, church muscians and clergy.

Cool!! Nice to hear some history from a family member.

The Chicago Co. is not Newman, it's Neumann. It ran from 1880 or 1890 to 1925 or so which was the great depression.
All these were extremely well made and heavy pianos as they were all Grands (iron string casting inside) from what I've learned.
Because of their rarity, these pianos if not neglected are all worth $1000 easy as long as iron and strings are nice, and the outside is restorable. If you have one that plays well you're already looking at 1k easy. Most upright grands never compared to Neumann bros. since they were not known for making the highest class pianos around. This Chicago company was one of very very few of the better made, better warrantied (10 years) at the time.
I found one of them free from a lady who had just sold her house and did not need the money, needed it out, her loss my gain. The iron on these suckers never cracks as is a problem for some makers.

I am picking it up this weekend and will look for serial numbers and names.

A zombie thread comes alive, and is groping for brains!

Not only groping for brains, groping for the wrong piano. The OP owns a Newman, not a Neumann. I'd bet they still own it.