[pianotech] Unusual piano, maybe

[Ron Nossaman]

Hi Jack,

I got a call about this thing this afternoon, followed by an email. Are
you interested? I haven't seen it, but I'll go look if it might be a 
worthwhile addition to the museum.

Ron N


> Dear Ron,  It was good talking with you this morning.  Glad I decided
> to call the number listed in the Piano Technicians Guild web site
> after not hearing back from my prior email to that link for you. The
> piano sitting in my sister's Wichita house is the prototype piano
> made by my father Ralph Wolfe in the 1950's.  Dad owned and operated
> the Wolfe Music Company at 817 W. Douglas,  then moved to 901 W.
> Douglas, a store on N. Market just north of Douglas, and another
> store near Oliver, I believe Town East? Though nearly blind, Dad was
> an inventive man who designed a piano soundboard capable of producing
> the sound of a baby grand inside a spinet piano framework.  Dad
> worked with a local metal smith and a woodworker to build his first
> piano.  Dad called his invention the "Supersonic Consogrand".  He
> contracted with the Stark Piano company in Chicago to mass produce
> pianos for him.  I believe Dad was the only source for buying these
> pianos.  During his lifetime Dad sold about 1000 of these special
> pianos.  Between my sisters and myself I believe we have the
> blueprints, a steel template for the soundboard, some photos,
> newspaper ads, contracts, and communications between patent offices
> and Stark. This piano has been sitting inside my sister's house for
> the past 42 years.  During the last 12 years of her life, Arlene was
> wheelchair bound and not able to care for her home.  Her husband was
> in poor health too, and for the last 5 years of his life neither of
> them could do much beyond visit doctors, and handle their basic
> needs.  Their house fell into serious disrepair, as did the contents.
> John died in January and Arlene died in July of this year.  I am the
> court appointed administrator of Arlene's estate.  As such, it is my
> duty to liquidate the assets of her estate. The piano has some
> serious defects which might cost considerable amount to restore.  Bob
> Bruner came to the house last September to give me his opinion and
> estimate for repair and restoration.  At that time he suggessted
> between $600 - $1,000, and without a guarantee.  There are cracks in
> the wood behind the soundboard, cracks in the bridges, rust on the
> tuning pins, and the felt pads are brittle.  The piano frame is dirty
> but otherwise in pretty good shape considering the environment it's
> held these past years. My two older sisters and I all have pianos of
> our own and don't need a second one.  Thus, we'd like to find a new
> home for this special piano.  In our conversation you mentioned a
> music museum in Kansas City that might be the recipient of the piano.
> If that is a good possibility I'm certain I could persuade my sisters
> to consider that option. The house in which the piano now sits is to
> be sold and torn down to make way for a parking lot for the school
> across the street.  That action should take place within the next
> 30-60 days.  So, there is a timing element to this offer. Please let
> me know what you learn from your discussion with Jack Wyatt.  I can
> be reached via this email address or via my home phone: 503-297-1483.
> I look forward to hearing from you.
>
> YT,  Corlene Blue
corleneblue at comcast.net