knabe age

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Subject: Knabe Age


Greetings, 

    The customer wanted me to declare the Knabe grand a real antique,  she 

had been told it was built in 1853, because the "serial" number was 6058.  It 

appears that this is a case number,not a serial number.  

   Due to a rebuild at some time in the past, there are not factory serial 

numbers on it, but a penciled in 80050/ 1916 on the inside of the action 

cavity.  I am leaning toward telling her to believe that later date, due to 

the piano's construction.  I also told her I would bounce this out on the 

list to see if I could find somebody to agree with me. 

    The piano is a conventional grand, about 6 feet.  It has a continuous 

rim, full iron plate, modern action and damper assembly.  Mahogany case,  88 

keys, normal keypins, etc.  

   Is there any particular facet of the Knabe pianos that marks a particular 

date?  Like partial plates at such and such a time, or jointed rims 

discontinued at a particular date?  Help please,  she thinks the museum will 

want it very badly........

Thanks, 

Ed Foote RPT