Serial number: 11989. This piano was manufactured in London, England in about 1930. This is an example of an English Reconditioned piano. There is more information about English modernised pianos below the photographs. We have just finished painting this piano with Granny B’s Black Betty chalk paint and it now has a textured look (March 2024).
Surprisingly for an English piano, the tone is a lovely warm and mellow one. It has 85 keys – with a medium to firmer, smooth touch – and 2 pedals. The dimensions are a height of 123 cm, a width of 142 cm and a depth of 61 cm.
The DE 530 Kelman upright pianoforte with stool is currently hired out.
As one can see in the photographs below, the mahogany finish obviously needed to be repolished. Fortunately – though – it was in good condition internally and only needed a good service.
Here is some more information about modernised pianos…
Referred to as ‘English Reconditions’, there was a period where tradesmen altered the original outer structures of pianos, adjusting the appearance of the pianos to adapt to current demand. The pianos were thus rebuilt and ‘modernised’. Changes included modification of the panel and overall shape; removal of mouldings and decoration and even, sometimes, the piano legs were changed. The most common and obvious change was usually with the top panel.
Other examples of modernised pianos are the JAE 117 George Rogers Upright Piano, JAE 460 Carl Ecke Upright Piano, DE 275 Fritz Kuhla Upright Piano and DE 530 Kelman Upright Piano