Barratt & Robinson

Colour: Satin mahogany

Barratt & Robinson were established in London in 1877, a date the firm carried proudly on its fallboards, and they were among the very last British piano manufacturers to close their doors in the mid 1980s. From their works on York Way in north London they built uprights in large numbers, and in 1971 they took over Challen, so the two names share a good deal of late British piano history.

This is a compact upright of 105cm and only 48cm deep, in satin mahogany with two pedals and a full 88-note keyboard. Pianos of this type were made to be lived with: simple, robust, and easy for a tuner to work on. Priced at £1,795, it has been assessed and prepared by our team at The Piano Gallery.

Available to purchase online or to try in person at our Oxfordshire showroom. Contact us to arrange a viewing or to discuss delivery and part-exchange options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who were Barratt & Robinson?

A London piano manufacturer founded in 1877 and based at York Way in north London. By the early 1980s they were producing several thousand instruments a year under their own name and others, and they had acquired Challen in 1971. They were one of the last British firms still building pianos when they closed in the middle of that decade, which makes their instruments a reasonable place to look for well-made British work at a sensible price.

Is it spelled Barratt or Barrett?

Barratt, with two As, as it appears on the fallboard of this piano. Barrett with an E is a very common misspelling and you will find instruments advertised under both, so it is worth searching for each when you are looking for one.

At 48cm deep, will it fit in a narrow hallway?

Very probably. At 48cm this is among the shallowest uprights you will find, which is exactly why pianos of this pattern were popular in terraced houses and flats. Measure the hallway width and remember to allow room for a stool and for someone to sit at it. We are happy to talk through access before delivery, because the route in matters more than the room.

Are parts still available for a piano whose maker has closed?

Yes. British uprights of this period were built with standard components, and hammers, strings, dampers and felts are all available generically rather than from the original manufacturer. A piano technician will not be troubled by it. The maker having closed affects the badge on the front, not the practicality of keeping the instrument going.

Is a British upright of this age a sensible first piano?

It is one of the better ways to start. You get a full-size keyboard and a real acoustic action for considerably less than a new instrument of equivalent quality, in a cabinet that will take family life. The thing that matters is condition rather than age, which is why every piano we sell is assessed and prepared before it reaches the showroom floor.