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I have a particular piano in mind, but am atm, just wanting to find more out about everything. So folks, what do you know about bohemia London ltd around the period of late 19th to early 20th? Thanks all.
Ben

Hi Ben - Welcome to Piano World!

You question is a bit confusing. Can you clarify exactly what you are asking?

Bohemia is a brand of piano, I think made specifically in London. I am guessing the poster is asking about that, but I don't know anything else about the brand.. can someone more knowledgeable fill in the gaps?

Well I know absolutely nothing about them, so if anyone is more knowledgeable, then I'd love to know anything. I do understand this is very vague,. I am curious about the brand, as when you internet search it, you only ever receive info about present day, and I also believe they are now based in Czech-republic, but under the name of c. Bechstein... On this site, it says the name dates from 1993... Which I know this piano was made well before this...being why I asked if anyone knows anything about them late 19th to early 20th, perhaps I should have explained a little more in the first instance.
Thanks, Ben

Hi Ben,

What is the reference to London? That is what is confusing.

Bohemia pianos generically trace back to 1871, but from the Czech Republic. There are various names and associations in its history. There is even a tie to Petrof when they all came out of the state owned (Czechoslovakia) piano companies. It gets very confusing. Throw in some excellent pipe organs and it starts to boggle the mind.

Bohemia, as the name of a specific piano, didn't originate until 1993. It is named after the region of the Czech Republic where the factory is located.

Their website is helpful.

http://www.bohemiapiano.cz/en/firm.htm

The contemporary pianos are a fine instrument which doesn't literally trace back to the late 19th. century.

Where are you finding a tie to Great Britain?

The piano was a relative's that it's history is vague, it is an upright, I'd imagine is about 58-62" total height, looks to be made from rosewood, style around 1900s, (my judge us I know it is old, too simple to be mid 19th, to decorative to be mid 20th). Behind the music holder is in gold writing 'bohemia London ltd'. That is my referance, and also my confusion.... When I get the chance I can show somepictures, but they will take a while to get.
Ben

... bump?

Sorry it is forum talk that we use on a marine aquarium forum, fo when you wonder if there hasn'tbeen any progression due to it getting lost among all the new threads.. and with the high rate production of this forum, I wondered if this had been the case.

We're all waiting for some photos. Possible? It would surely help solve the mystery.

I'm also into marine aquaria. What is the forum to which you refer?

Sure will do, minute I am able hopefully within a week, the piano is not at my residence. The forum is marine fish forum. It is primerily UK but there are also a few Americans, the forum is the best that I came accross, my only issue with it is that it seems to be dulling down now, I imagine that it'd be down to the summer. I also briefly browse around some of the American forums, to watch the supersize builds. Which on the subject has just reminded me to check out 'mission impossible- acroporas..' something or other....

http://s1157.photobucket.com/albums...ew&current=DSC02164.jpg&newest=1

These are the pics, I am away for a fortnight but will try to answer any Q's as soon as poss.
Many thanks,
Ben

Looks like an interesting old upright... well build.

I liked the pictures of the aquarium.

Good luck.

Rick

Thank you, unfortunately this has come to no avail... Anything extra needed? Or are we just un-knowledgeable about the subject of this piano.

Hi Sailor Ben,

greetings from a german sailor.



Sorry for crossposting, for ancient UK pianos, there also are some other specialists in GB, see here, & greetings to Bill Kibby.,

http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forums/index.php

Nice jawfish...

I wish he was mark... Then I wish he wasn't when I would have realised the $200 price tag I just payed... No that lovely fish is a firefish, became reclusive and I had to move him out.. shame but had to be done.

Let's cut to the chase here. No point beating around the bush (enough expressions already). An upright piano from the turn of the 19th century to the 20th is not worth a rebuild. Spend your money on a new piano you can hear and like.

When you decide to do a rebuild, you have no idea what the end result will be. To invest this much in an upright is not a reasonable investment. If you do it on a grand, there are some who would argue that the harp and case have an influence on the sound (more than the soundboard?) and would warrant the investment.

I myself would only purchase a piano that I hear and play and like.

That is in no way of interest to myself. I am more interested in the history of the piano. Why everything has to be about money, I am clueless. My question was not whether it would be worth a rebuild or not as a viable investment. It has been in the family sin e then and moved households. No purchasing being done here, it is likely though that the piano will be rebuilt at a later date, for the sentimental value it with holds, not the 'shallow minded' inveatement.

Judging from the photos (the case style and plate design) I would estimate your family piano was built around 1910, give or take 10 years. Your piano has an over-damper (aka birdcage) mechanism. As well, the soundboard panels run horizontally. Both features point towards an antiquated (1870s) and inferior design, tonally and touch-wise.

"Bohemia - London" does not appear in the piano atlas. This usually means that this piano was in all likelihood a stencil piano - a lower grade "no-name" instrument onto which a dealer could put a name of his choosing.

A helpful technician could probably get it cleaned and fixed up and tuned to work for you. But any kind of re-building would really be misguided and ill-advised.