Expert: Theron Ice - 3/19/2005

Question
My mother has a 66 key piano that we were told is strung like a baby grand (double strung).  We found on the inside a Pratt and Read label as well as the markings RV 2111D and the date 02/28/51.  We also found hand written in the piano the numbers 19463.  We are unsure of the maker and the serial numbers.  We were told by a piano tuner at one time that there were only @638 of these pianos made.  We are unable to locatethe brand of this piano.  We believe it is one of the apartment pianos you mentioned in another query.  We would like to also know if this has any value and what this may be.  

Answer
Carol,
    I believe the term your looking for is "over strung". This design of the bass strings strung over the treble strings is a standard "scale" and has been incorporated in hundreds of thousands of vertical pianos since the mid to late 19th century and is a standard vertical scale design today.
    Several manufacturers made "apartment" size pianos over several decades and the total number of these pianos would be well in excess of 638. The Pratt-Read markings are the name of the company that made the "action" for this particular piano. Pratt-Read  is one of the largest and oldest makers of piano actions and hundreds of brands have used this companies product in their pianos.
    With no brand cast in to the plate inside, it may be what is known as a "stencil" piano. Stencil pianos were made by predominant piano makers and sold under many brand names.
    An experienced piano tuner/technician should be able to offer an opinion as to the parent company of this piano. Since the limited amount of keys limits the player to a reduced palate of expression, the value lies in its "cute" factor. I have tuned about 60 of these tiny pianos over the years and have one in my shop currently. Many diminutive pianos were  made in the Victorian era for children and some version of these pianos have been made continually for about 140 years.
    There may be some design element that could determine the make of the piano to an experienced piano professional as well as the possibility that the name is obscured by a refinish or paint job. Sometimes the name is visible in relief by looking on the fallboard (key cover) for signs of a decal that would have been located in the center of this part. Many of these small pianos were used as commerative pieces and had art work that could be associated with grand openings, carnivals, and expositions. The value is predicated on the internal condition of the piano as well as the cosmetic condition. With no name or art work visible, it is most likely a standard issue apartment style piano and would be worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Musically, they sell for around $600. The "cute' factor sometimes commands prices of around $1,000.

            Sincerely, Theron Ice