painted artwork on piano plates.

[Andy&Chris Taylor]

Hello again.
I am sure that many of you have noticed painted artwork on piano plates.
This may now be a impossible question to answer now, but I wonder how and
why this got started?

These designs included simple pinstripes, treble staffs, bass staffs, &
complicated designs on some examples. very hard to duplicate(at least for
me) it is always a nice touch to replace these when the plate is repainted,
but it isn't easy!

Foster & Co, always has a hand painted design around the serial number.
there are no two alike. the serial number is always painted as well as
stamped in the back. There was usually another "artwork" design around the
second top plate bolt
on the left of the name plate.

This can also be found in most American Piano Company pianos to a lesser
degree, and if you are familiar with the artist's design, it is a tip-off
that the piano was made by American Piano Co, no matter what name it bears.

I am sure that there is a interesting story about the artist that painted
these, but the answer may be lost in time. It is a little hard to believe
that American Piano Company employed a person whose job was to come by and
'doodle" on piano plates!

but it happened!


Best Regards
Andy & Chris Taylor
"The Lone Arranger"
Tempola Music Rolls
"Taylor Made" Just For You
http://home.swbell.net/tempola/index.html