J Reid Pianos Building St Ann's Road

Comment by StephenBln on September 6, 2011 at 23:26

My parents lived on St Ann's in a similar style house @250 - built 1859 demolished (nearly fell down) 1957.

Comment by Hugh on September 6, 2011 at 23:30

So, it's up by Cissbury Road and it looks like you can visit.

Comment by Geoff Amabilino on September 6, 2011 at 23:48

It is still there - but I don't think they manufacture any more.

Comment by LOUISA LIVERMORE on September 7, 2011 at 0:02

They don't make their own anymore - just import and sales. When Mr Reid died a few years ago his widow donated a Reid piano to St Ann's church up the road. I played it a while back when she came to a service.

Comment by Maddy on September 7, 2011 at 8:29

I bought a piano stool there in 1988 from a huge showroom.

 

Comment by Hugo Read on September 9, 2011 at 8:45

It is true they don't make pianos any more Louisa, but nobody does (literally); it doesn't mean much any more to 'make' a piano, as different parts are constructed in different specialist places all over the world (nearly all 'actions' for example are manufactured by one company, they are even used for Steinways and the like). 

However, it's very wrong to say they just import and sell Louisa.  They are the last of the local piano firms based around Hermitage Road still in business (there used to be a good dozen or so) and they still very much RESTORE pianos, and to an extremely high standard.  I believe they're the only factory left in London who do this, the others piano outlets indeed being places that just import, buy and sell pianos.

A couple of months ago I bought a completely restored 1982 Yahama upright from Reid, which has been beautifully restored and is basically as new.  When you go in there all of a sudden you're in this big warehouse with literally HUNDREDS of pianos all over the place and various guys all taking them apart and restoring the hammers and strings and the like.  It's an incredibly operation and serious piano players come from all over the country to get pianos from them.  They get in pianos from all over the world (lots of Yahamas from Japan) and then after a basic tune-up they leave them in the factory until someone picks a particular one to buy, at which point they then do a complete restore on the piano you've chosen, which takes about two weeks.  They then deliver it and give you the first tuning free a couple of months later, after the piano has 'settled down' in its new home.  It's a great place and I'd highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about getting a piano.

Comment by Maddy on September 9, 2011 at 8:49

Can we add them to "Recommended local businesses" ?

Comment by Hugh on September 9, 2011 at 9:21

We don't really have a section for that Maddy.............or do we?

Comment by Maddy on September 9, 2011 at 9:32

Or should we?

Comment by Maddy on September 9, 2011 at 9:33

What often happens is that an interesting little thread like this appears and within hours has been superceded, so other people who might be looking for a piano don't know that there is somewhere like this right on our doorstep.

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