no name six legged spinet

[Les Smith]

Hi, Guy.

>From the way you describe it, even down to the six legs, it sounds to
me a like an Adam Schaaf grand which was made in Chicago until their
demise in 1926. I have seen them in original condition and I have seen
a couple which had been restored. Either way, these were bottom-of-the-
barrel pianos only because the barrel HAD a bottom. Otherwise, they would
have been UNDER the barrel. Trying to restore one of these in an effort 
get it to play and sound "like new" will be an exercise in futility,be-  
cause they were so poorly and cheaply made to begin with, that they must
have come directly from the factory sounding like a _really bad_ Aeolian-
built  Winter spinet. Get the picture? :-)  My advice would be to un-
hesitatingly "junk that clunk" and upgrade. From where you're sitting 
right now, just about ANYTHING else would be a step in that direction!

Newton mentioned Kimball's "La Petite"grand. In fact, what you most 
likely have is one of Adam Schaaf's "La Crappola" grands!

Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net

On Sat, 20 Dec 1997, Guy, Karen, and Tor Nichols wrote:

> List,
> 
>   Looking f or a name, and other opinions, on a miniature grand. All
    identity is obliterated from prior refinishing and/or water damage.
> 
> 	Here's the basic stuff:
> 
> 4' 5" from front of keybed to tail of rim. Lid overhang might be all of
> 1/2" if the lid was attached.
> 
> Plate surface coat is HIGHLY textured, in a crinkly kinda way, like some
> of the old....Winters? Hallet-Davis? I know I've seen that texture before.
> Plate ALSO goes all the way around the rim, no open area west of the bass
> wires. Small sound-ports, and not more than 3/4" from bottom of plate to
> the board in the area around the ports. No aggraffes. Four section. Pretty
> heavy looking plate, all things considered.
> 
> Six skinny little legs, in three pairs. No ex-player, though. Music desk
> and rest assembly doesn't slide.... actually can pivot up from the front,
> on two little 'L' brackets mounted at the rear corners. Wrest plank is as
> tall as the fallboard, and holds the pivots for the fall. Has to be
> unscrewed from the plate in order to remove the assembly, before pulling
> cheek blocks, etc.
> 
> Action appears to be a regular compressed action, with a slightly odd rep
> lever. (short of the rest rail) Regulation would be kinda ......tough.
> 
> Ring any bells???????????
> 
> The customer is considering enhancement or replacement. It needs
  hammers,
> dampers, re-whatever of the keytops (non-regulatable prior replacement),
> bass wires (at least), minor bridge repairs, various cabinet repairs (lid
> and legs and lyre), and there are anxious buzzes from lots of sources.
> Almost at pitch.  Otherwise it's terrific! :^)> 
> 
>  	Thanks in advance for any input. The customer may drop by Sunday
> afternoon, and would be thrilled if we came up with a name.
> 
> Guy Nichols, Member, PTG
> 
> 
>