Age of Francis Bacon Piano - Upright
I'm sorry this is a long post, I'm just trying to include as much information as I can.
Hello, I just bought a Francis Bacon piano and I have been looking around for someone to tell me a little more about it. This is the only forum (and one of a handful of websites) that even gets the age of the company right! Most say that Francis Bacon started making piano's mid-1800's. Unfortunately, the date embossed inside my piano says that the company was est. in 1789 in New York. Another thing I noticed was that people bashed on this piano, claiming it is low end and not worth while. Just playing it, I would have to disagree.
I had never heard of this piano company until I found this poor piano at a yard sale, going for a whole $20. For some reason, a previous owner decided to paint the outside of it white! :eek: Seeing the finished original product on the inside of the lid, I am heartbroken that they decided to do this. Plus, the white pain is peeling off, and looking at the varnish underneath (where it isn't marred due to being exposed) it looks like no sanding was done prior to painting, making the paint unable to stick over time. Fortunately, I have a family member who has experience restoring these instruments, and I have restored antique pieces, so I won't have to spend a mint having someone else doing it. I don't buy a piano to sell it, unless I meet someone who falls in love with it, and I can part with her ;)
I'm not interested in its worth, unless it's something I should have insured on my homeowners. She has her original ivory keys - and none seem to have been replaced (or were replaced by an expert) looking at the color and the grain. There are no chips or marks on any of the keys. The bench looks original, as it matches the style of piano - the bench legs look like minatures of the piano's. Unfortunately, the bench was also painted in that awful white.
Her last tuning was approximately nine months ago, and she can hold a tune. She had the ultimate test. The yard sale I found her at was only a few blocks away from my house. I had no truck to haul her with. So two neighbors came and helped me. We placed two dollies underneath (when I think of dollies I think of ones with handles, but these were square with four wheels each, no handles), and pushed her home. I've had her for several weeks and she plays as good as the day I got her. The insides look good, except the felt may need to be shaped - since it looks like it hasn't been touched recently. According to who the last owner acquired this paino from, the felt was replaced around 1980, but who knows. All I know is that she plays as beautifully as my Acrosonic does, and has real potential.
The outside is not ornate, and reminds me of a more 1920's style, from the pictures I've seen. The legs of both the piano and bench are square, but there is some detail at the top and bottom of each. The music ledge (not sure of technical name, usually I just point and make up my own terms, sorry) is rounded and swings out, with two hinges that lock into place. The top can be propped up with two capped small, swinging arms.
The inside of the top piece is amazing, it is all done in what looks to be handpainting lettering in gold and silver. It has the name of the company in large gold letters and then lists four of the awards the company received along with the dates and copies of the medals:
First Prize & Medal Mechanic's Institute Fair, Washington 1852
First Prize & Medal Franklin Institute, State of Penn, 1856
Grand Medal & Diploma Centennial Exposition, Phila [sic] Penn 1876
Grand Medal & Diploma World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago Ill [sic] 1893
The pedals seem to be in good working order, and she only has one key that sticks (fortunately not an extremely vital one). The key cover is on a hing, so of course it folds back on itself then slides back.
I'm really curious to know her age. The lady that sold her to me had no idea, and thought she had been gipped when she saw the outside of it, because of the paint. Hence, the buying price of only $20. To me, what's important is what's inside the cabinet, not outside. The outside can always be fixed - the inside is another story altogether. One can have the most beautiful piano in the world, but if it doesn't play, that what good is it. To me, this is a piano that is just begging to be played. I want to play her every time I go by. She sounds beautiful, though I am biased to aged pianos over new, especially with the plastic keys. I just can't get used to them or the new piano sound.
Any help that can be given would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance
Her serial number is 250237
By the way, when I opened up the bottom panel to inspect the inside, I found an old Christmas card from the 50's and a child's love letter!