Ken, I'm not sure what exactly to call this thing. Thanks for the info. So what constitutes a fortepiano? He is asking $5000. The case is nice and all original. It will hold reasonable tune, although it is a full step flat and I'm not inclined to pull it up very far. BTW I must have had too late of a night - my dates are all mixed up. The decal says 1873, not 1853 and I was thinking the manufacture date to be 1870's to 1880's. No, I don't think a 1850 - 1860 piano would have an 1873 decal on it (duh). Rick. on 10/26/01 12:15 PM, Ken Eschete at k-eschete@northwestern.edu wrote: >> Dear Rick, > > I have come across pianos like what you are describing, although not > by that particular maker (or dealer if it is a "stencil piano"). I > am not sure that the presence of a Viennese action makes this a > "fortepiano", but rather a mid-19th century grand piano with a > composite plate. Some Viennese makers, including Bosendorfer, stuck > with that action long after the rest of the piano makers had started > using the Erard type. I have seen them with full cast iron plates > with cross-strung bass, and still a Viennese action! > > The value of that instrument is about the same as any other from that > period...the style of action and makers name will not enhance the > value. If it plays and holds tuning; and if it has a nice 19th > century case; that is what will determine it's value. What was the > price on the piano? > > Sincerely, > > Ken Eschete > Northwestern Univ. > > > > >> Hi all, >> >> I was asked to evaluate a piano for sale yesterday and wasn't totally >> prepared for what I found. It is a fortepiano. It has a Viennese action, >> an unusual flanged damper system, and a substantial plate (much of it bolted >> together) One curious thing about the plate is that it passes through the >> bass bridge, you have to remove the bridge cap from the root in order to >> remove the plate. >> >> Anyway, we talked about what the piano was musically, but I didn't have any >> historical answers. I assume that it would be dated somewhere around 1850's >> to 1860's as it is similar to the beefier structure of the Schrimpf >> fortepiano here at the school. >> >> The soundboard decal says: >> >> Weltausstellung Wein 1853 (reference to the 1873 Vienna World Fair I assume) >> Pianoforte-Fabrik >> vor >> Josef Berger >> Vien >> V. Margarethenstrafse 59 (address?) >> Werk 1702 (I assume this is a serial #, as it appears on other parts) >> >> >> Anyone know who this Josef Berger was? I can't find his name anywhere in my >> books or the various internet sights. If so, does the serial # point to a >> date? Lastly, does this particular builder hold any significance in the >> history of the piano, or was he just another builder in Vienna? >> >> >> Thanks for any info. >> _____________ >> Rick Florence >> Piano Technician >> Arizona State University, School of Music _____________ Rick Florence Piano Technician Arizona State University, School of Music
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC