The discarded piano on the verge in Madeley.
Camera IconThe discarded piano on the verge in Madeley. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Old piano thrown out with the garbage in Madeley

Bill BuysWanneroo Times

MANY strange things are put out on sidewalks for the City of Wanneroo’s twice a year bulk refuse collection, among them a variety of whitegoods, chairs, fans, out-of-action TV sets, paint pots and suchlike.

But a complete upright piano?

A rare one emerged in Langford Boulevard, Madeley, during last week’s collection in the form of an old Germahn brand piano.

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In a rather sorry state of neglect, it was still mostly in working condition, with four faulty keys marked with an ‘x’ in texta and the maker’s name still proudly displayed in gold on its face.

On the lower right corner was the supplier’s name: Snadens, a household name in the WA world of pianos, with a history dating back to 1921.

However, the company’s records did not show any product known as ‘Germahn.’

Might it have been sold on consignment?

An internet search also failed to produce much information, other than a new Germahn could be bought at Thomson’s at either its Perth or Fremantle premises, for 165 pounds sterling back in 1928.

However, that company no longer exists.

One other Germahn was offered for sale on Gumtree a while ago, described as ‘Fair condition, needs tuning & comes with 2 stools. Comes as is.’

It was pick-up only, and you had to go and fetch it in Toowoomba.

The one on the sidewalk in Madeley looked to be of late 1920s vintage and might have had quite a tale to tell.

But it made a sorry sight among a pile of junk on the sidewalk.