I looked at a Knabe Grand with a square tail that had been donated to an arts organization that raises money for various causes including music scholarships. It is unique in more than one way. First- it is missing the pedal lyre which often is the key in dating Knabes at least in my experience. Second I only found which must be a part number 8130 on the cheek blocks. Third it was painted on the lid top an underside as well as the fallboard with a colorful Octopus by a scuba diver artist. Amazingly all of the ivory keytops are there and the action parts are original. As a piano it would need quite a bit of work and the plan is to auction it off as is. I have seen far worse but it will take some money to make it right with new hammer, shanks, flanges , key rebushing, regulation etc. I am trying to date it from the stencil on the plate which is S9852 That date puts it at 1864 since the beginning serial # for 1865 is 10,000 in Pierce. The Embossed name on the plate is a rectangle with WM.KNABE&CO in the middle with Established 1837 above the name and BaltimoreMD below.
Would the S before the 9852 be the system used for Square tails or is there some other meaning ? There must be a Knabe expert out there in the PTG ...
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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