Knabe Upright

[Farrell]

I had an 1893 or so Knabe upright until yesterday. The trash man comes on Tuesday. I completely tore it apart a couple months ago. The only reason I did not rebuild it was because termites had eaten much of it. This was one absolutely impressively built piano. What a tank. It has a full-fitted flange on the plate for the pinblock. Mine was open faced, perhaps yours is a full plate. May be different. Check it out carefully, it may be quite a piano - one well worth rebuilding. Good luck. Please let us know what happens. I would be curious to follow what happens with your action rail.

Terry Farrell 
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@sbcglobal.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:42 PM
Subject: Knabe Upright


> 
> List,
> 
> Looked at great old Knabe upright from the 1910s or so.  Customer is moving it to Israel in several months.  Problem:  one hammer assembly loose...brass rail stub broken off...previous repair didn't hold (one of those brass clips with the feet.  This is a really great piano...perfect everything...except brass rail...the kind I'd like in my living room.  Heavy...solid...clean treble.  The fellow is leaning towards doing it right and spending the money.
> 
> I am considering just trying to repair the one bad spot...(I put a rough tuning on it and nothing else broke, I brushed across hammers with fingers and no other hammer assemblies are loose).  I also am considering a new brass rail.  I believe Schaff duplicates them or at least did.  Has anyone had experience in this?  Will the new rail with hammers attached still be lined up with strings within reason?  I am concerned about can-of-worms syndrome here.  I've never really been satisfied with the repair clips for rail repairs.  To switch over to traditional wood flanges would entail new butts, rehanging etc...I wonder if I can duplicate just one little section of the rail?  I wonder if I should farm this out to my friend David Love?
> 
> Thanks in advance...and I will peruse the archives!
> 
> David I.
> 
> 
>