Collard & Collard c. 1863

This beautiful rosewood lid conceals a big surprise!

A 6¾-octave Collard & Collard  (CC - a4)

I hesitate to use the word 'unique', but we see in the pictures above and below not only a full-length iron reinforcing bar and string-plate, but a fully overstrung layout.  

12677 is the number within the sequence of Grand Squares;

73751 is the tally of pianos of all shapes and sizes starting with 5½-octave squares by Longman & Broderip in 1796. This enables us to date the piano to 1863 more or less exactly.  The detached piece of the interior fretwork is also visible in this picture.  

The technique for removal of the action of these later C&Cs is not obvious, and these instructions are helpful! 

The beautifully printed paper labels are often lost or damaged, but happily this one is intact.

The picture above shows the attachment of the bar to the plate, and the cut-out for the bridge of the overstrung bass section.

Although the keys are in one piece, we believe that they are ivory.  As a FtGH piano it did not need to be registered under the UK Ivory Act 2018, but it would need CITES for export.

Offering a rare opportunity to own a remarkable piece of piano history,  this splendid piano is generously offered Free to Good Home, to be  collected from Leicester.

Please contact Paul Jenkins paul.r.jenkins94@gmail.com

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