Oxford piano reference

Common and Top Piano Makes In The UK

A practical Roberts Pianos Oxford reference for comparing piano makes, relative quality bands and likely UK availability before you book a visit.

Book a viewing Browse current stock

Guide size

124

Indexed makes, sorted alphabetically for quick comparison.

Quality band

The benchmark “good” rating used throughout this guide.

How to use it

Search by make, jump by letter, then use the description column to decide which families are worth hearing in person.

Key to piano ratings: We have taken as our benchmark U1H Yamaha upright and G3E Yamaha grand pianos made from 1970 to 1980, since they are very common. These are given a rating of 65 = good. Ratings assume the pianos to be restored or reconditioned and in good condition.

0 – 40 = unacceptable • 40 – 50 = passable • 50 – 60 = fair • 60 – 70 = good • 70 – 80 = excellent • 80 – 90 = superb • 90 – 100 = dream piano

Estimates for the number of pianos in the UK vary wildly from 2 to 5 million (figures for 2013). We are using the conservative figure of 2 million.

This guide is revised over time. If you work in the trade and can correct or add useful information, please let us know.

Find a make quickly

Search by make or rating band, or use the alphabet jump list below to move through the table.

Showing the full Oxford reference list. 124 makes

Skip to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Wesel, Germany

Adam Gerhard

60-70

Established: 1828
Grand / upright: Grand+Upright

Generally well made pianos

Make	Est.	Made by	Made in	G/U	Est'd in UK	Rating	Description
Adam Gerhard 1828 · Wesel, Germany Grand+Upright · 400	1828	Adam	Wesel, Germany	Grand+Upright	400	60-70	Generally well made pianos
Aeolian 1833 · Various Grand+Upright · 1500	1833	Aeolian	Various	Grand+Upright	1500	50-60	Varied. They made many player pianos
Ajello & Sons 1862 · Manchester, UK Upright · 1000	1862	Ajello	Manchester, UK	Upright	1000	50-60	Mostly tall overstrung underdamped uprights with strong tone
Allison 1837 · London,UK Grand+Upright · 15000; 15% grands	1837	Allison	London,UK	Grand+Upright	15000; 15% grands	50-60	Varied low to medium quality; some baby grands quite good
Amyl C1920 · London, UK Upright · 1500	C1920	British piano Co for Coop CWS	London, UK	Upright	1500	40-50	Honestly made but mostly basic straight strung over dampers
Archibald Ramsden 1895 · London, UK Grand · 800	1895	Ramsden	London, UK	Grand	800	42-52	Usually straight strung over dampers, but quite well made
Army and Navy Unknown · England Upright · 1500	Unknown	various factories	England	Upright	1500	40-50	Usually straight strung over dampers, but quite well made
Ascherberg 1865 · Germany Grand · 800	1865	Ascherberg	Germany	Grand	800	50-60	Low quality pianos, pre-war company
Atlas Est. 1955 · Hammatsu, Japan Grand+Upright · 200	Est. 1955	Atlas	Hammatsu, Japan	Grand+Upright	200		Due to trade name copyright in the U.S.A, these were sold under the "Tadashi" name, but a few were still sold as Atlas pianos. Tadashi, Toronto, Canada went out of business on 1987.
Baldwin 1862 · Cincinnati, USA Grand+Upright · 300	1862	Baldwin	Cincinnati, USA	Grand+Upright	300	55-68	Varied. Most of the ones imported to the UK were basic models
Barnes W.H. 1976 · London, England Grand+Upright · 2000	1976	Barnes	London, England	Grand+Upright	2000	45-55	Nearly all uprights
Barratt and Robinson 1877 · London U.K Upright · 15000	1877	Barratt and Robinson	London U.K	Upright	15000	50-60	One of the last London factories. Satisfactory mid range uprights
Bechstein 1853 · Berlin, Germany Grand+Upright · 50,000	1853	Bechstein	Berlin, Germany	Grand+Upright	50,000	60-85	WE RESTORE ALL BECHSTEIN PIANOS. Prolific high quality maker. See specialist Bechstein page
Bell 1864 · Ontario, Canada Upright · 1200	1864	Bell	Ontario, Canada	Upright	1200	50-60	Generally overstrung. Very varied, poor to medium quality
Bentley 1906 · London, England Upright · 20000	1906	Bentley	London, England	Upright	20000	45-60	Very varied, poor to medium quality
Berry 1877 · London U.K Grand+Upright · 3000	1877	Berry	London U.K	Grand+Upright	3000	45-55	From very basic overdampers to medium quality overstrung
Blankenstein 1880 · London & Berlin Upright · 800	1880	Blankenstein	London & Berlin	Upright	800	50-60	Varied, gernerally medium quality
Bluthner 1873 · Leipzig Germany Grand+Upright · 20000	1873	Bluthner	Leipzig Germany	Grand+Upright	20000	70-90	WE RESTORE ALL TYPES OF BLUTHNER PIANOS. Prolific make of high quality pianos. Please see our Bluthner page
Bord 1840 · Paris, France Upright · 4000	1840	Antoine, Bord	Paris, France	Upright	4000	45-52	Mostly small straight strung overdampers c1890-1910
Bosendorfer 1828 · Vienna, Austria Grand+Upright · 1500	1828	Bosendorfer	Vienna, Austria	Grand+Upright	1500	50 - 95	WE RESTORE ALL BOSENDORFER PIANOS. Austrian pianos of high quality. pre 1900 grands have Viennese actions
Boston 1991 · Hamamatsu, Japan by Kawai Grand+Upright · 2000	1991	Kawai/Steinway	Hamamatsu, Japan by Kawai	Grand+Upright	2000	50-65	A little mellower in tone than medium priced Kawai. Touch is good.
Boyd c.1900 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 15000	c.1900	Boyd	London, UK	Grand+Upright	15000	35-55	From very basic overdampers to fairly good overstrungs
Branston Unknown · London, UK Upright · 200	Unknown	Branston	London, UK	Upright	200	50	Mostly basic pianos
Brasted 1823 · England Upright · 4000	1823	Brasted	England	Upright	4000	50-65	Honest well made British pianos
Brinsmead, John 1836 · London, UK. Grand+Upright · 20000	1836	Brinsmead. From 1967 Kemble	London, UK.	Grand+Upright	20000	50-70	Very varied prolific English maker
Brinsmead, Stanley 1894 · London, UK Upright · 500	1894	Brinsmead	London, UK	Upright	500	40-50	Traditional and Modern uprights.
Broadwood 1728 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 80000	1728	Broadwood	London, UK	Grand+Upright	80000	40-85	Huge variety of quality; most well made and some superb
Broadwood White 1894 · London, UK Upright · 500	1894	Stanley Brinsmead	London, UK	Upright	500	40-50	Straight-strung overdamper half iron frame pianos.
Brock, Bernard 1890 · London, UK Upright · 400	1890	Brock	London, UK	Upright	400	45-48	Traditional upright pianos
Brodmann 1812 · Vienna, Austria Grand+Upright · 200	1812	Bosendorfer	Vienna, Austria	Grand+Upright	200	60-75	Mostly fair quality grand pianos
Browne, Justin 1870 · Euston Road, London Upright · 500	1870	Browne	Euston Road, London	Upright	500	40-50	Well made but most pre 1890 overdampers
Challen 1804 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 90000	1804	Challen	London, UK	Grand+Upright	90000	50-68	WE RESTORE SELECTED CHALLEN PIANOS. Can be quite reasonable but vary. They make the UKs most common baby grands
Chappell 1811 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 80000	1811	Chappell, later Kemble	London, UK	Grand+Upright	80000	50-70	WE RESTORE SELECTED CHAPPELL PIANOS. Varied but generally good. Old ones can be quite basic
Churchill Unknown · Bristol, England Upright · 1000	Unknown		Bristol, England	Upright	1000	Unknown	Mostly basic straight strung overdamper pianos in a traditional case
Collard and Collard 1760 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 35000	1760	Collard	London, UK	Grand+Upright	35000	40-70	Extremely varied prolific British maker spanning over 200 years
Cramer 1824 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 10000	1824	Kemble	London, UK	Grand+Upright	10000	45-68	Plenty of variety. Many baby grands and post 1900 uprights
Crane Unknown · Liverpool, UK Grand+Upright · 3000	Unknown	Crane & Son	Liverpool, UK	Grand+Upright	3000	35-50	Mostly basic uprights
Dale Forty Unknown · UK & China Grand+Upright · 7000	Unknown	Dale Forty	UK & China	Grand+Upright	7000	30-50	Pre -1950 Dale Forty pianos are basic British pianos
Danemann 1892 · London, UK Grand+Upright · 20000	1892	Danemann. 1982 + by Broadwood	London, UK	Grand+Upright	20000	44-68	Prolific and varied maker. Please click on name for more details
Duck Son and Pinker 1848 · Bath, England Grand+Upright · 8000	1848	Bristol Piano	Bath, England	Grand+Upright	8000	35-50	Mostly basic straight strung overdamper uprights

Common and Top Piano Makes In The UK

A–Z make table

Need help comparing specific makes?