Maker reference
Challen Pianos
History, relative rating, UK availability and examples handled by Roberts Pianos Oxford.
Guide rating
50-68
Photo Gallery
An example of a typical traditional English piano.
Challen baby grand piano in walnut
At a glance
Challen facts
Make: Challen
Made in: London, UK
Made by: Challen
Rating: 50-68
Estimated Number In UK: 90,000. About 30,000 baby grands 4ft 3in to 5ft 6in.
Year and serial number:
1900 26260
1920 35814
1940 66482
1960 87529
1980 104455
Comments
WE RESTORE SELECTED MODELS OF THIS PIANO. One of the most common London makes. Challen generally made medium quality upright and baby grand pianos. There are a few pre 1900 Challen uprights which can be decorative and have a warm tone. The best challen uprights were made from about 1900 to 1935. They were also the most prolific baby grand manufacturer in the UK, and large quantities of mahogany baby grand Challen pianos 4ft 6in to 5ft 6in made from 1900 to 1935 are still in service. We often restore the less common and very attractive walnut ones. Challen are also thought to have been involved in designing the 4ft 9in London Bechstein baby grand, which reveals many similarities to the Challen, though this piano was apparently made in the Welmar factory (source: Alastair Laurence, 2012). There are many Challen upright pianos in the UK, dating from about 1960 to 1980, varying from medium to fair quality.
Compare nearby ratings
Higher rated
- Archibald Ramsden (London, UK) - 42-52
- Bord (Paris, France) - 45-52
- Barnes W.H. (London, England) - 45-55
Slightly lower rated
- Brock, Bernard (London, UK) - 45-48
- Godfrey (London, UK) - 35-48
- Hickie & Hickie (London, UK) - 35-48
Videos
Videos linked to this make from current and previous stock.
Previously sold examples
A few recent examples from our archive.
Challen 988
upright
Challen
upright
Sold image gallery
A collage of recent sold examples for this make.
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