Roller Et Blanchet Upright piano marked above soundboard near tuning pins RB (Roller et Blanchet) H 124 serial number 3052. Because of the style of the piano we are estimating the piano to have been made around the 1830s.
There is no existing records that are known for Roller et Blanchett pianos that has been found yet. Case is made of fine Mahogany with bronzes covering the whole case as well.
Johannes Roller and Nicolas Blanchet
Piano Makers in Paris
became partners in about 1818. Blanchet was the don of Arman-Francois-Nicolas Blanchet, himself a well known Parisian Harpsichord and probable pianoforte maker in Paris. Roller et Blanchet were responsible for a number of patented innovations:
A new type of transposing piano
A Metal Wrest Plank
A Keyboard shift with new type of escapement
A Double Grand
At the Paris Exhibition of 1827, they introduced their obliquely strung 'dog kennel' piano, which evoked much interest. Their upright piano action, patented in 1829, incorporated significant improvements to dampers, hammers, and escapement. In the 1840s they experimented with the early version of the sostenuto pedal.
As a company policy Roller et Blanchet employed only French workers. The firms addresses were in the Rue Vieille du Temple before 1822, when they were listed at 27 rue Paradis-Poissoniere. Their later address being 26 rue de Hauteville, continuing there under the Aegis of P.A.C. Blanchet as Roller ET Blanchet Fils.
Roller Et Blanchet were awarded gold medals in 1834,1839, and in 1844 in France and for three of four pianos shown, a second classmedal at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. Roller retired in 1851 and PAC Blanchet, Nicolas' son, joined the firm. Roller et Blanchet won a first class medal in 1855 in Paris. Later that year PAC Blanchet was decorated with the Legion of Honour.
