[pianotech] Emailing: Wm.Rolfe Pianoforte 005

[Clark Sprague]

Esteemed Colleagues,  A while ago, I posted about a Wm. Rolfe Fortepiano, 
that someone in my area has in their possession.  They want to sell, or 
donate, this piece to a museum, or private collector, that will preserve, 
and appreciate it.  I went to look, and photograph it today, and it is 
magnificent, even though it would need some TLC to be perfect.  It has 1 
string that was tied, has a few over-dampers that are detached, and 4 
key-fronts that are also detached (the pieces are there, NOT missing).  The 
one thing that is possibly missing (I don't know if there was one there in 
the first place, although I believe that there was) is some kind of pedal 
lyre?  There is only very minor veneer chips (at the bottom edges of the 
case) that I could see.  I have additional pictures available if there is 
anyone out there who knows of someone who might be interested.
    Interestingly enough, the piano came from New Hampshire, and in the 
drawers at the bottom of the keybed are tons of artifacts from New England, 
that the owners put in there to keep.  There are two (cards?) from 
manufacturers in Boston from way back.  McPhail, and Miller, Gibson, and 
Co.), and Newspaper articles dating clear back to 1773!!!
    Isn't this a wonderful business that we're in?  To be able to see, and 
touch artifacts that go clear back to before the Declaration of Independence 
is just incredible to me.  The serial number of the piano seems to indicate 
that the piano was made circa 1805, and further proof of this is that the 
piano is signed Wm. Rolfe, and not Wm. Rolfe and Sons.
    As I stated before, more pictures are available upon request.

Thanks!
Clark A. Sprague, RPT
csprague4 at woh.rr.com


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