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The fold-down lip on the fallboard is also a Bechstein characteristic. I cannot reconcile the model designation nor the serial number, but everything says Bechstein to me.

I agree its a Bechstein. When Mark Allen was building his piano some years ago he was using Mason plates. This looks to be an early example of badge engineering.

Ron O.

Since this piano seems to be a one-off customized for a special occasion, doesn't it seem likely that the original name would be under the badges?

If it were a whole line of stencil pianos, I can see re-engineering the plate badge or the inlaid fallboard name.

But in this case, I bet the answer simply lies underneath a set of screws...

But if it were an 1888 Bechstein, shouldn't the original inscription on the fallboard be a lot wider than the dedication plate?

Indeed, this is why it might be important to know whether the piano has ever been refinished, as Vince suggested a while ago.

To summarize so far.

- Most of the experts here think Bechstein. The plate certainly looks like it.

- There is a C stamp on the plate, but the piano is concert grand length. It's not a model C. That points to it being a model E, or the earlier model I (numeral). If so, what does the C refer to? How did Bechstein mark their pianos?

- If that number on the plate is a serial number it suggests 1889

- David B argues that the Model I from that period had a constructed rim with sharp points. This one doesn't.

- if the piano has been refinished, the fallboard marking may have been eliminated, so what lies beneath the dedication placque may not tell us much.

Perhaps imunggoy can unearth a little more family history and shed a bit more light on the piano's origins.

I'd also add that a Model I had a slightly different plate. There is an additional brace running along the width of the plate just behind the dampers, which I believe the earlier pianos did not have.

The Bechstein fallboard lettering should be solid brass recessed into the wood, not an easily-removed decal. But separate case parts like the fallboard are easily fabricated, duplicated, or replaced.

Bechstein was also making these somewhat ornate plates probably through the 1950's. After the war, they weren't exactly in a position to make big changes to their piano designs.

Which brings up another point. Why go through all the effort to hide who made this particular piano? Bechstein is hardly a second-rate brand that needs another name slapped on it.

Just maybe, like in the other recent thread here about a WW2-era Hamburg Steinway, a piano coming from Germany was not politically correct to own?

Thanks,
David

On other thing: Those numbers are not where Bechstein puts serial numbers.

I stopped in to take care of a problem on a Bechstein M grand today. That is not a designation that would fall into a series anyone has mentioned. Bechstein had a number of different model designations, and I doubt that there are many experts outside of the factory.

Thank you everyone for all your contributions. I've gathered the points raised and I'll fill in the blanks the best I can.

1. Yes, my mother was a concert pianist.

2. I've re-measured the dimensions again. The links below show my methodolgy, which of course could be erroneous.
Length: ~ (97 + 6)=103 inches (not 106 as originally posted - mea culpa)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/sabshernandez/piano/DSC01400.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/sabshernandez/piano/DSC01402.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/sabshernandez/piano/DSC01403.jpg

Width: ~ 60-1/2 inches
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/sabshernandez/piano/DSC01404.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/sabshernandez/piano/DSC01405.jpg


3. Yes, it was re-finished about 10 years ago, but to my knowledge only the body finish was re-touched.

4. I took VGrantano's advice (thank you) and looked under my mother's name. Voila!... the name is finally revealed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v417/sabshernandez/piano/DSC01407.jpg


5. Now that I know its maker, I can't find any sites about this maker. Has this maker gone under? It's still as mysterious as when I started out. Perhaps there's someone out there who has some information on it. Thanks again.

M.F. Rachals and CO. Hamburg Germany, made Kolski and Lohman. Went out of business in 1957. A Bechstein copy.

I discovered just a few tantalizing references on the web. Some mention of Kolski being German. As an interesting side note, a number of sites that referred to Kolski are in the Philippines!

Wow! This has been great fun watching the mystery deepen and then unravel. I'm not sure how much we helped you, imunggoy, but we've had a blast trying to figure out the story of your mom's piano. This has been better than the Car Talk Puzzler. Maybe we should start a Piano World Puzzler series.

Do you play, by the way? What a special instrument with a special story.

Wow, that was fast. Thanks, Curry. I'll try to track that company down. Maybe they have manufacturing records (is that possible?).

Yes, PD. Saw those websites too. Will see where it takes me.

And finally, sorry, Monica. I do not play. My mother tried to orient us into music by sending us all (6 of us) to music school, but unfortunately none had the talent nor perseverance to become accomplished in it. Indeed a very regretful situation

To everyone else, thank you for all the help.

What a fun thread!

How did you get that plate off?
I don't see any screw holes.

Well, now that we know the maker, that serial number corresponds to a manufacture date between 1921 and 1930.

Luckily, it was just glued on. I suppose it weakened with age. Didn't take much to pry it out with my fingernail Pretty neat, huh?

Thanks again, PD.

I knew the answer was under there!

OK, now that we know all that... tell us what you will do with the piano?

It has such sentimental value, you probably don't want to sell it.

On the other hand, you don't play.

Sounds like another mystery for us to figure out.

Hopefully, you still have periodic maintenance/tuning done - it would be a shame to let such a nice piano deteriorate.

Oh yes, WB. The piano presently sits at the lobby of the condo I live in, where music teachers coming to teach their students often request if they can show off their repertoire at the keyboard while giving the piano a good exercise. It's certainly the most popular conversation piece when residents' guests come to visit.

And yes, I have the piano tuned every 2-3 years.

As to considering selling, well...hmmm... send me an email if you know of someone really interested.