Secretary Desk Piano

[dvandrsn@ix.netcom.com]

Here's a question that some list member may be able to shed some light on.

I've got a customer with a Jensen piano, approx. 42" console, 58-note scale (C2-A6),
brown mahogany cabinet, which is enclosed in a writing desk.  The unit is overall about
80 inches tall, with a glass cabinet that sits atop the piano back.  There are two
tiers of 3 drawers each, and the 2 piano pedals are between them.  The fallboard flips
and slides in such a way that the piano is completely concealed (with the exception of
the pedals)  I have not as of yet been able to find any numbers on the cabinet, but the
piano/cabinet work looks to be 1930s to 1940s.  If anyone else has come across such an
instrument I'd be interested to know.  Of primary interest to the client are the age of
the instrument, whether this was a one of a kind or a production item, and means for
tracing its history.  (currently, family legend says it was made for a member of the
Hearst family.  This very well may be true, but there is currently no documentation to
support it.)  Please mail me if you have any leads/ideas regarding this piece.  I'll
also be scanning some pictures in the next couple of days, so I'll be able to email to
anyone interested.

Thanks,

David V. Anderson, RPT