<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Hi Rex,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> J. B. Cramer & Co. was established in 1824 at <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">139 New Bond Street</st1:Street>, <st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City></st1:address>, W1, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>.  Your serial number would seem to indicate that it was manufactured around early 1917.  Their heyday seemed to be between 1900 and 1933 when they were making about 1,500 instruments a year.  During WWII their output was – understandably – almost non-existent.  After the war and up until 1960 they made very few instruments per year (less that 250) and none, it seems after 1960.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I don’t have any information as to quality though I did find a Cramer grand in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> that was trying to find a new home.  The owner had died and his relatives stated that, even though it was a good playing and well-maintained instrument, they just didn’t have the room for it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I hope this helps.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tom<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Rhea Piano Service<o:p></o:p> Tom Rhea, Jr., Technician<o:p></o:p> (757) 373-0284<o:p></o:p> <ns1:PersonName w:insAuthor=" " w:insDate="2012-11-27T14:27:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=" " w:endInsDate="2012-11-27T14:27:00Z"><a href="mailto:rheapiano@cox.net">rheapiano@cox.net</a></ns1:PersonName><o:p></o:p> <ns1:PersonName w:insAuthor=" " w:insDate="2012-11-27T14:27:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=" " w:endInsDate="2012-11-27T14:27:00Z"><a href="http://www.rheapiano.com">www.rheapiano.com</a></ns1:PersonName><o:p></o:p> <ns1:PersonName w:insAuthor=" " w:insDate="2012-11-27T14:27:00Z" w:endInsAuthor=" " w:endInsDate="2012-11-27T14:27:00Z"></ns1:PersonName> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Rex Roseman Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 1:48 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> Subject: [pianotech] Cramer piano<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> I have a customer that would like to have information on a Cramer piano. It is an upright # 53889 made in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:City> between 1910-1920. The piano was moved from <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region> and later to the <st1:State w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:State> and then to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:State>. This is a family piano and they are debating moving it to <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:place></st1:State>. I looked at the piano for them and except for the normal wear on the original hammers for a piano this age; it is in very good condition.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The books I have don’t give any information about the maker. Can anyone shed some light on the Cramer company and the quality of their work?<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Thank you in advance.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Rex Roseman<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>