Knabe Age

Greetings,
The customer wanted me to declare the Knabe grand a real antique, she
had been told it was built in 1853, because the "serial" number was 6058. It
appears that this is a case number,not a serial number.
Due to a rebuild at some time in the past, there are not factory serial
numbers on it, but a penciled in 80050/ 1916 on the inside of the action
cavity. I am leaning toward telling her to believe that later date, due to
the piano's construction. I also told her I would bounce this out on the
list to see if I could find somebody to agree with me.
The piano is a conventional grand, about 6 feet. It has a continuous
rim, full iron plate, modern action and damper assembly. Mahogany case, 88
keys, normal keypins, etc.
Is there any particular facet of the Knabe pianos that marks a particular
date? Like partial plates at such and such a time, or jointed rims
discontinued at a particular date? Help please, she thinks the museum will
want it very badly........
Thanks,
Ed Foote RPT

Hi, Ed;

So it's tuned in an antique manner?

I'm not familiar with real antique Knabes, though we've an 1880's grand
in the other shop. This has three bridges, and two overstringing planes
- the third bridge cantilevers off the back of the tenor. Angled tail,
non-continuous rim and with the soundboard grain about 65-70� to the
belly rail. Herz/Erard action with crow-feets, glued-on damper flanges.
Open face block, angled with struts going across, big old stretcher in
the treble.

If the Balmo makers were like Boston ones in the '50s most likely it
would be straight strung, probably with octagonal legs and Rosewood
veneer. Don't know about actions, could be single, double or a spindly
H/E.

Try posting to pianotech, though...

Clark