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I thought people might like to see pictures of my Halsmayer. I have had it for over 50 years now!

I ceased to have piano lessons when I left school. When I went to university my parents bought me this piano for my college room, where it lived for my three years there. This instrument sustained my piano playing in the absence of lessons - I adored Mozart, and I bought the Henle volume of Mozart's sonatas and miscellaneous pieces, and gradually worked my way through them. Eventually I found myself living back at home with the Bluthner, and the Halsmayer has resided in a second home in the north of England. It has regretfully suffered somewhat from being in a minimally heated house through all these winters. At least, it has not had to cope with excessive dryness!

I have never come across another piano by Halsmayer. If any of you have heard of another one, I would be most interested to hear about it. The piano has a rich warm tone, and is very pleasant to play, although the dampers could be more efficient.

In taking these photographs I discovered the name "Halsmayer" on the rear of the bottom panel. Is this the maker's signature?

The piano was made in Berlin, and I presume that being German it would have been well built. The serial number is 10228. If anyone would care to look this up in Pierce I would be most grateful.

I would be most interested to hear people's thoughts / observations / comments. When do people think this piano might have been made?

All that's listed in Pierce is: "HALSMAYER," that's it!

Regards,

Cool legs!!

It must be at least 70 yrs old.

Did they really make ten thousand pianos? Or perhaps the numbering started at 10000, and this was the 228th?

I cannot find any info online, but it’s pretty cool to see a real signature on it. I love the finish. 10 thousand piano seems like a lot for for a smaller manufacturer.

All I can say is that except for the rounded legs it reminds me of the pre war Seiler I had when I was quite young .(The style of the cabinet.) Of course I cannot be sure of the height (yours looks like a 130). All I remember was that the piano seemed so tall and dark of course, but those rectangular patterns are also a memory.
Well yours is still a lovely looking piano ! Wonderful that it still plays too. Sometimes looking on Klaviano, one finds forgotten or nearly forgotten piano brands.

Here is a Halsmayer


https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...ioneers/catalogue-id-2710781/lot-4087938

Another here


https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-antique-upright-piano-268510336

Thanks Lady B. I think the height of my piano is probably 150 (like the one you linked to).

I have seen some small modern Halsmayer pianos ,so David it's probably a stencil piano today , apart from the authentic ones that still survive.

10K is not much for 70 years of production, <200 per year, they went underwater only after WW2 as many others did.

I suppose the Halsmayer was bombed since it was in Berlin ?

It’s a beautiful upright! I love the wood color.

Sorry I mean't 😔 The manufacturer was bombed, not that piano. Probably many manufacturers disappeared at that time.

Amazing what one can discover with creative googling. This gem is from the collected programmes of the Saturday concerts at the Crystal Palace (London). These pages are in the programme for October 17th 1896. Sarasate was playing!

I suppose that a "Horizontal Grand" is what we would call a grand - in which case, it is interesting that Halsmayer made grands as well as uprights. It is at any rate reassuring to know that there is no finer pianoforte than mine!

It is amazing flipping through these pages - see here. The image below is on page 90. Click the left and right arrow buttons.

I like the Looks of It!


~Lucubrate

None Finer !
I do not see a year on that page but it looks early 1900 by the print. I could be quite wrong of course !

I discovered by leafing through the adjacent pages that this is from 1896.

This site says that they were in London, not Berlin:
http://www.lieveverbeeck.eu/Pianoforte-makers_England_h.htm

David
Just looking at the advert , I notice it says "horizontal" and
upright grand .(or no space left so ......upright
grand

So I am not sure if they are referring to a taller upright
and grands. I guess I wondered if they meant square pianos and upright grands or uprights and grands.(and square pianos ) ? I have no idea when square pianos disappeared.