The History of Behning Upright Pianos

The Behning Piano Company dates back to the mid-1800s; this New York City company produced elegant upright pianos. Henry Behning, originally from Germany, founded the company in 1861 after arriving in the United States in 1856.

History

• Behning pianos were manufactured in New York City's "Piano Row" district. piano image by Pefkos from Fotolia.com

  In 1881, Henry's son was welcomed into the partnership, and the name of the company changed to Henry Behning and Son. Henry's grandson, Gustav Behning, took over the company in 1931. One year later, Gustav sold the company to Kohler and Campbell due to hardships caused by the Great Depression. Kohler and Campbell continued to mass-produce upright pianos under the Behning name until 1956.

Style

• Behning pianos are popular choices for piano restoration enthusiasts. piano image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com

  Behning upright pianos had an elegant style and details like decorative woodwork and pure ivory keys. Some upright models featured an open face, which allowed the piano player to view the movement of the steel strings while playing. The company name appeared in gold-leaf lettering on the keyboard cover. Behning pianos were crafted mainly from hardwood, and veneered in mahogany.

Age

• Reading the serial number is the most reliable way to date a Behning upright piano. piano keyboard iii image by Hao Wang from Fotolia.com

  Each piano has a serial number; and the five- or six-number code is on a cast-iron plate on the soundboard. This serial number indicates the piano's age. A serial number beginning with "2" indicates a piano from the late 1880s, while a serial number beginning with "4" means that the piano was made in the 1920s.