Shipboard Knabe.

[gordon stelter]

I have a Knabe probably exactly like this, but some
parts got lost in the last 110 years, like the rocker
capstans and the top front panel. I have heard 1 other
like this, and it truly had the biggest bass of any
upright I've heard, approaching an S&S "B" grand. I'd
appreciate finding these parts, or at least a photo of
the missing panel.
     Thanks!
     G
> 
>   I am just finishing a full restoration on a 1893
> Knabe 57" upright.  Why the tuning instability? 
> This model Knabe is VERY suseptible to temp and
> humidity change.  Only because of personal reasons
> did I take on this job.  In other words it's a
> freebe for the steaming historic Liberty museum
> ship, the S.S. John W. Brown.  Both ship and piano
> built in Baltimore.  The 3/4 plate flange is tightly
> wedged beneath the pin block, and is wraped under
> the piano bottom and screwed there. I think this
> plate and S.B. configuration does not allow for much
> movement due to climatic change.  I discovered this
> piano in a wharehouse on a Baltimore dock next to
> the ship.  It had been there since WW II covered
> with what pidgens do.  The tuning was still near 435
> and the pins were tight. However the SB was split
> pulling the ribs loose.  One should note that this
> era Knabe used #1 by only 2" tuning pins, take care
> what size you re-install.  We have replaced the
> sound board and the bass pin block.  The bridges
> were fine.  We had to remove the bass side of the
> case to get the extremely tight fitting plate out of
> the piano.
>   The action has a double stack with rocker capstans
> and is very hard to find action parts.  After
> stringing and kept in proper climate conditions the
> tuning is very stable at A440 with a booming tone
> some grands would like to have.  I've had the piano
> in my shop for about 4 years, working between the
> pay jobs.  IMO this type of job should never be
> undertaken with profit in mind. Maybe before I check
> out, this old veteran ship of WW II  will get a nice
> piano for her crew and passangers as she visits
> ports along the Atlantic coast.  Visit it at
> www.liberty-ship.com. 
>   Carlos Ralon, RPT 



		
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