knabe age

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: <A440A@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: January 26, 2001 2:52 AM
Subject: knabe age


> 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
--------------------------------------------------------

>From your brief description -- no built-up rim, no exposed pinblock, etc. --
probably early 1900s.

Not an antique, but properly remanufactured, quite a nice piano. Value?
Probably anywhere from $500 to $2500 depending on condition. Maybe a bit
more if it's really exceptional.

Antique value? $0. Maybe less.

Del