1890's Knabe uprights

[Farrell]

I think one of the key features to these pianos is the bottom of the plate. Most any piano I have seen, the plate ends at the bottom edge of the soundboard and will have a few screws that go through the plate into the framing perpendicular to the string plane. On these Knabes, the plate has a bottom flange that extens through the bottom board and wraps around toward the rear around the framing timbers. There will be large screws that go through this 90-degree flange into the framing perpendicular to the piano bottom. Look at the back of the piano. You should be able to see a large pinblock flange from the top of the plate also - like on many of the open-pinblock Steinways.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carl Meyer" <cmpiano@attbi.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 2:42 PM
Subject: Re: 3 gorgeous 1890's Knabe uprights for sale, unrestored.


> 
> I note the high regard many have for the old Knabe uprights.
> 
> I have a Rosewood 57" Knabe serial 19339 (that should make it 1879 or so.)  It's been refinished decently but the inside is pretty bad.  I haven't checked downbearing, crown etc but it has three bridges, wound trichords, three notes below and five notes above the bass break. A dealer had taken it in on trade and I didn't want it to get away so I bought it for $250.  Although this is a bit older than what you've been talking about I assume it's in the same category.  Anybody know if there is any difference?  Thanks.
> 
> Carl Meyer  Assoc. PTG
> Santa Clara, California
> cmpiano@attbi.com  
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "gordon stelter" <lclgcnp@yahoo.com>
> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 7:27 AM
> Subject: 3 gorgeous 1890's Knabe uprights for sale, unrestored.
> 
> 
> > I have available 3 of these, often called the "finest
> > uprights ever built". 2 are 55", the other is 50", all
> > have magnificent, aristoctic, very tasteful American
> > Victorian cases. One of the big ones and the smaller
> > one are rosewood. All have 3 bridges. None has had
> > mice. Little or no moth damage.
> >      We had one like these, restored, next to a
> > vintage Steinway B. Its bass blew the Steinway's
> > a-way!!!. Nice, clear treble, too!
> >      Reasonably priced. One also has a matching "piano
> > chair" with a rack and pinion adjustable seat!!!
> >      True "artist's" instruments, and museum pieces as
> > well. Rockefellar had a Knabe, it was the official
> > piano of the Metropolitan opera and Robert E. Lee was
> > a frequenter of the Knabe home ( for all you Suth'nuhs
> > ) Class stuff!!!!!!
> > 
> >      Please respond privately for details.
> >      Gordon Stelter
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
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