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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello all,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last night we had a most unusual =
chapter
meeting. By special arrangement via David Chadwick, RPT, we had =
our
chapter meeting at the Liberace Museum here in Las Vegas. During =
this
after hours event the barriers around the pianos were removed, and we as =
technicians were given the opportunity to touch and to play these unique =
pianos.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Liberace Museum is home to many =
special
instruments. Not only was he an extravagant pianist-showman, but =
he was
also a collector of rare pianos. Here is a partial list of some of =
the
pianos Liberace collected:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Rosewood Steinway Square, #6932 =
built
1863</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pretty rough shape with several broken
dampers. The case appears clean and in good shape. Typical =
massive
decorative legs but no spectacular carvings to speak of.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Kuhn & Ridgeway Harp =
Piano</STRONG> (no
serial number), estimated 1857.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is the vertical type with an =
exposed harp-like
frame standing up. Not playable but seemed to be in decent =
museum-quality
shape for display. No real damage that I noticed. Very nice
case.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Upright mirrored =
Nickelodeon</STRONG>, (no
name or serial listed, says 1945 but unlikely, probably
1920s.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Looks cool but nothing really =
spectacular
here. Mostly valuable simply because it was his. Covered in =
tiny
mirror squares, this is obviously an old pumper player that has had an =
"O" roll
spool frame added in the bottom and a glockenspiel added at the
top. Documentation suggests modifications made in the
1970s.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Pleyel art case grand</STRONG>, =
#96421,
estimated 1885.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The entire case is decorated in =
original hand
painted art work and is in decent display condition. Very elegant
Rococo gold leaf French countryside motif. Apparently this =
piano was
used in the 1945 movie "A Song to Remember" about the life of =
Chopin. This
piano inspired him in using what would become his trade mark
candelabra.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Broadwood, London #103 =
estimated
1788.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>By far the most valuable in the
collection. Certainly one of the oldest and rarest in the United
States. A very nice although relatively simple case, but in =
relatively
decent museum quality condition. The case reflects the typical and =
unavoidable "cheek bend" syndrome found on most pianos from this era =
caused by
the tension warping the case. This was one of the more special =
moments in
our tour. The action was removed and we were given to opportunity =
to study
it first hand. The hammers are very small and made entirely by =
layers of
leather. The let off is very simple with a soft back check. =
The
piano was unplayable in it's current condition.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Bosendorfer</STRONG> =
#222, estimated
1830</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Apparently this piano was owned by =
exiled Serbian
Prince Michael Obrenovic III in Vienna. Liszt, Schumann, and =
Brahms all
reportedly played this piano. The piano was =
eventually relocated to
Serbia with it's owner until his assassination in 1860. It was =
then given
to his Fiance'.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Chickering</STRONG> =
#146409-661R, with
Ampico reproducer player </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial =
size=2>Very little information was given
about this one other than it being owned by Liberace. The massive =
case is
about as elaborate as it gets with detailed carvings everywhere. =
The
player appears to be a model A. Rather than the typical three =
"double
legs" as found on most player grands, this piano has five =
independent
heavily carved legs. Two at the front, two on each side at the mid =
point,
and one at the tail. One of the most elegant player grands I have =
ever
seen.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Chickering</STRONG> =
#2956??,
estimated 1920s, not specified with apparent missing serial
numbers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A very nice case, this piano was =
previously owned
by George Gershwin who apparently used it for much of his composing when =
he
lived in New York.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Baldwin</STRONG> #SF216787,
1976</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Reportedly one of Liberace's favorites, =
this piano
is covered with thousands of rhinestones made specifically to match his =
famous
costumes and his rhinestone covered car. He played this one
extensively, and it was used during his last performance along =
with
his famous mirrored piano before he died. The appearance is mind =
boggling
in the way the light reflects off of it in rainbow colors. During =
our
visit we were each given the opportunity to play this =
piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Coquet</STRONG> #1262, =
estimated
1830</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Built in Paris this is an early upright =
piano with
brass and tortoise shell inlaid into a very French style case. The =
piano
features two double brass candelabras at each side of the music =
rack. Not
sure about the history of this piano other than the fact
that Liberace owned it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Steinway</STRONG> #95852, =
estimated
1900.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From what I understand this was the =
only Steinway
Liberace owned since he was a Baldwin artist. It originally had a =
unique
white finish which Liberace later commissioned to have completely =
refinished in
royal blue and gold to match one of his famous costumes. There are =
carvings around and on the lid depicting a musical motif. Liberace =
used
this piano in a show at the Las Vegas Hilton on a rotating stage and =
later
became known as the "Dancing Waters" piano after the song he used to =
play using
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Collard & =
Collard</STRONG> (No
serial number, estimated 1850)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A very elaborate upright piano, the =
type for
which Collard & Collard were well known. There are over fifty =
types of
veneers used in the cabinetry as well as brass. Not sure about the =
history
of this one.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Quante</STRONG> #1030, =
estimated
about 1850.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This upright piano was once located in =
an upper
class saloon in San Francisco. It was present during the famous =
1906
earthquake during which it suffered only a warped damage on the top of =
its
lid. A block is specially fitted on the left side of the keyboard =
for the
pianist to set his drink and a tip jar. Never seen this
before.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Baldwin</STRONG> =
#SD213557,
1976.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This was his famous mirrored piano =
built
specifically for Liberace. There are actually two of these =
built.
The other mirror piano is located at the Smithsonian in Washington =
DC.
Those who attended the Arlington PTG convention may recall seeing this =
at the
Piano 300 exhibit. Liberace played these extensively. It was =
used in
his last performance at Radio City Music Hall in 1986. Only =
Liberace could
get away with playing a piano like this in public!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Butterfly Miniature</STRONG>, =
(no serial),
estimated 1930</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A favorite novelty miniature grand =
piano, these are
favorite collectibles. I recall mention that several piano =
techs have
one of these. No history was given on this =
piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Pianette</STRONG>, (no serial =
number), date
stamped on soundboard indicates 1930</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is a most unusual miniature grand. =
I
have never seen one of these. It is Japanese with "Nippon Gakki" =
on
the fall board. It has a 3/4 plate, badly out of tune and =
regulation,
so I was unable to determine it's potential. The keyboard is about =
ten
inches higher than the rest of the piano, I am assuming there must be =
some kind
of drop sticker arrangement from the keys to the action.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Barrel Piano</STRONG>, (no =
maker indicated,
obviously </FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>Italian. Estimated =
1900 but I
suspect earlier, perhaps 1880s)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Typical barrel piano arrangement for =
mounting on a
cart and a hand crank on the right side. No indication what type =
of barrel
or how many tunes in it. There are screens bearing art work one =
the
front. Obviously not the original screens, it looks like =
someone
scanned some pictures and then printed them on a computer printer =
using
iron-on paper and then applied it to new material. A pretty =
good idea
when you think about it except they did a pretty poor job of =
it.
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>The instruments receive minimal =
preservation
attention mostly by David Chadwick, RPT. The mirror and the =
rhinestone
pianos receive more attention since they are still played on special
occasions. Brian Paco Alvares, the museum's curator, was an =
excellent host
and spent a lot of time with us. Chapter members as a group had a =
photo
session with the rhinestone piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are many other pianos that =
Liberace owned
throughout his life. A fe</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>w =
are on loan
in other collections, some are in private collections. The =
mirrored piano
in the Smithsonian is owned by Baldwin AKA Gibbon. There are a =
substantial
number pianos and artifacts that have been lost over the years for a =
variety of
reasons. The museum is now in process of seeking out these lost =
items in
an effort to reassemble the entire collection. If you are aware of =
any
pianos that were once owned by Liberace please let me know and I will =
pass on
the details to the museum so that they can =
investigate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You can visit the Liberace web sight
at:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.flatwaremedia.com/liberace/index.cfm">http://www.flatw=
aremedia.com/liberace/index.cfm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Chapter President</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Las Vegas, NV</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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