<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>RE: Weber with 4 string unisons</title></head><body> <div>Interesting.  There's another one of these on the West Coast, as it's on its side in my shop in San Francisco, although I was told that it had been in a church in Michigan for much of its life.  The piano is a basket case (literally - it came to me in boxes - maybe it's a 'box case').  I think it was already worn out, but then the church burned down, which didn't do anything to improve the condition of the piano, needless to say.  Funny you should mention Paderewski, as the story I was told was that this was 'Paderewski's piano', whatever that means.  I'm not sure how you would go about proving such a thing.  I suppose it's like having a piece of the true cross.  I gave some credence to the story since it had four string unisons in the top two sections, which I had assumed was unique, but now I see is not.  Another feature of this piano - it's obviously set up for travelling.  The frame is cut away in a particular fashion and there are metal brackets nested in it to which the legs and lyre are attached when the piano is on its side.  Another reason I gave at least a little credence to the Paderewski story.  One of those rebuilding projects for when I have some spare time (which means it will probably be inherited by another technician).  I'd love to see this one in good shape.  I'm sure it will be no problem ordering some new 4 string agraffes from one of the supply houses.  Maybe some day....</div> <div><br></div> <div>Phil Ford</div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial">Dave.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial">I took care of one of these for years.  There were only a few made.  At one time there was a fellow trying to find all of them in the country and it turned out the majority were here on the West Coast.  Paderewski used them when he was feuding with Steinway and often the program would even mention the use of the Weber.  </font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial">...  I'd love to see one in good shape.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial">Hope this helps,</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial">jeannie</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font size="-1">Jeannie Grassi, RPT<br> Associate Editor, Piano Technicians Journal</font> <blockquote><a href="mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net"><font size="-1"><br> </font></a></blockquote> <blockquote><font face="Arial" size="-1">Old Weber fans,<br> <br> Today I happened upon an old Weber 9 foot concert grand that was not in the greatest shape, though in its time, it must have been REALLY magnificent.  The strings were pretty rusted, though at pitch, and tunable(despite having been installed more sloppily than I've ever seen). I didn't get to tune the whole thing, just looked it over a bit.<br> <br> The interesting feature is the four string unisons above the treble/tenor strut.  I wish the piano was in good shape so I could really evaluate what musical effect this would create.  Has anyone on this list come across one of these in decent condition?  Tuning them must be a bit of a challenge.  The strings of each note are so close together, that they seem quite difficult to get a mute between.</font></blockquote> <blockquote><font face="Arial" size="-1"><br></font></blockquote> <blockquote><font face="Arial" size="-1">Just another of life's interesting pianos.</font></blockquote> <blockquote><font face="Arial" size="-1"><br></font></blockquote> <blockquote><font face="Arial" size="-1">Dave Stahl</font></blockquote> </blockquote> <div><br></div> </body> </html>