Franz Besendorfer "Made To Order Style" #1

[ed440 at mindspring.com]

"Made to Order Style" makes it clear it was not made in Austria or Germany, where folks speak and write in German, not English.  
It was probably either a stencil piano, or, less likely, assembled from mass produced available parts.  "Made to Order" is part of the sales gimmick, as is "Besendorfer."
Serial #1 doesn't lead us to expect much production, or much history.  
Was there any other writing found in the piano?
An old upright found in Hoboken was probably made in New York.  Were there any piano factories in Hoboken?
Chances are you can find standard replacement parts in Schaff, Pianotek and Brooks catalogs.
If the action is different from typical old upright, it would be nice to see pictures.
Ed Sutton


-----Original Message-----
>From: Aart in America Piano Services <aartinamerica at optonline.net>
>Sent: Mar 17, 2006 7:12 PM
>To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
>Subject: Franz Besendorfer "Made To Order Style" #1
>
>Hello List, need your guidance please.
>
>Today's new client has a very interesting old 52" upright Franz 
>Besendorfer "Made To Order Style" s.n. #1 piano in good shape but need 
>lots of action parts - hammers, hammers butts, wippens, hammer flanges 
>and damper lever flanges.
>
>Two questions:
>
>1) How can I research origin and age on this piano?  Pierce Atlas lists 
>the name only.  No info.   Piano was inherited from elderly couple- 
>nothing else know.
>
>2) Not certain that standard parts will fit this custom piano.  Can you 
>advise, and/or would anyone have a line on parts that would fit?
>
>As always, thanks and happy St. Pat's Day,
>
>Aart O'Markenstein
>
>
>
>
>Aart in America Piano Services
>Hoboken, N.J.  07030
>201 406 2594
>aartinamerica at optonline.net
>
>_______________________________________________
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