Gulbransen Upright Pianos вЂ“ 1825 вЂ“ 1969 вЂ“ acquired by Story & Clark.Chickering & Sons Upright Pianos вЂ“ 1823 вЂ“ 1983 вЂ“ responsible for cast iron plate in pianos.Baldwin Upright Pianos вЂ“ 1890 вЂ“ 2001, a very famous company.And they made or make upright pianos, which is what weвЂ™re focused on here. These are just samples of brands you probably know as well as Steinway & Sons. We didnвЂ™t include even a fraction of the companies.

Below is a little list of some of the players that were or are very big in the piano world. ThereвЂ™s no shortage of upright piano brands вЂ“ not in the past and not today. However the copper wound strings and metalwork within todayвЂ™s pianos are much better than antiques.Д®ven within antique upright pianos, there are different qualities and categories based on the age and models. Their warm tenor, resonant bass, and singing trebles all pay homage to the craftsmanship of 100 years ago. Made usually in mahogany, walnut or oak, these antiques carry sound better because of the long aging process of their woods which makes them last longer too and such aged wood is not available in new pianos. Of course, the finest of these antiques were also the finest of their day, and were in the homes of the wealthy where they could be afforded and well cared for. Pianos have a rich history and it is reflected in the designs of world class piano makers from all over the world. But a buyer needs to be careful and know pianos or reputable dealers before making such a purchase. There are well preserved and/or restored upright antiques to be found and there is a market for them. The soundboard and plate of the strings of an upright piano run vertically, perpendicular to the keyboard, from 36вЂќ to 60вЂќ, thus taking up less floor space than the horizontal grand piano. The chief advantages of upright pianos lie in their modest price and compactness. The springs, in part, account for the characteristic key touch of uprights, which is distinctly different from grands. The action of the upright differs because it returns to a resting position by means of springs rather than by gravity alone, as in a grand. In a grand piano, the action of the hammer and damper design relies on gravity to complete each note.

There are more complex mechanisms at work in the action, but too technical to describe in one article. Simultaneously a damper (a small block of wood with felt affixed) is raised from these strings, allowing them to vibrate more freely. When a piano key is pressed down, its tail lifts a mechanism that throws a hammer against the strings for that keyвЂ™s note. The вЂњactionвЂќ inside a piano produces the music.

By the beginning of the 1900вЂ™s, the upright piano became the space-saving and money-saving alternative to the grand piano. Smart manufacturers lowered piano production costs by introducing uprights which propelled the vertical piano into many homes by the end of the 1800вЂ™s. They had children who wanted to learn piano. Homes that could afford pianos then were usually large, with parlors suited to extravagant grand pianos.Д«ut people who werenвЂ™t rich and didnвЂ™t have large Victorian houses wanted to play pianos. They were sometimes referred to as вЂњcottageвЂќ pianos, in those days, because they took up less floor space. But it was never a fair comparison since the instruments are manufactured for different uses, and to serve the needs of different pianists.Д«eginning in 1805, uprights found their place in the piano market. It no longer holds true, however, as in the latest piano renaissance, uprights have come into their own. Upright pianos have been very popular for decades, but were once highly disparaged by critics who prefer the performance of grand pianos.

What is the old tiny piano called