Hello again.  I am sure that many of you have noticed painted artwork
on piano plates.  This may be a impossible question to answer now, but
I wonder how and why this got started?

These designs included simple pinstripes, treble staffs, bass staffs,
and complicated designs on some examples -- very hard to duplicate
(at least for me).  It is always a nice touch to replace these when the
plate is repainted, but it isn't easy!

Foster & Co., always has a hand painted design around the serial number.
There are no two alike.  The serial number is always painted as well as
stamped in the back.  There was usually another "artwork" design around
the second top plate bolt on the left of the name plate.

This can also be found in most American Piano Company pianos to a
lesser degree, and if you are familiar with the artist's design, it is
a tip-off that the piano was made by American Piano Co., no matter what
name it bears.

I am sure that there is a interesting story about the artist that
painted these, but the answer may be lost in time.  It is a little hard
to believe that American Piano Company employed a person whose job was
to come by and "doodle" on piano plates!  But it happened!

Best Regards

Andy & Chris Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls
http://home.swbell.net/tempola/index.htm