PianoTech Archive

From "Geoff Sykes" <thetuner@ivories52.com>

Greetings all --
 
I just worked on a very nice four year old Ottostein upright piano. The
family is Chinese and they purchased the piano new in Hong Kong. Just last
month they moved to Los Angeles. The piano was shipped out and arrived about
two weeks ago. 
 
Pierce doesn't list the name. But on the piano was a sticker that said Tom
Lee Piano Co., which appeared to me at the time to be the name of the store
where the piano was purchased. From a Google search it appears that Tom Lee
is actually a manufacturer AND a retail outlet with stores in China, Hong
Kong and Canada. Pierce indicates that Tom Lee actually makes pianos at its
factory in Kowloon, Hong Kong, but Ottostein is not listed in the Pierce
Atlas. (The piano has a very low serial number so that's not surprising.)
 
Parts, and the serial number, KJLG 00254, look very similar to the new
Knabe, but I can't at the moment remember whose making those. Does anyone
have any experience or further knowledge of Ottostein? There is absolutely
nothing wrong with this piano. I'm just curious. Especially since I can't
find anything.
 
Thanks --
 
-- Geoff Sykes
-- Los Angeles

From Roger Jolly <roger.j@sasktel.net>

Hi Geoff,
                   Made by Samick in the Korean factory.  K Korean, J 
Decade 2000, L 2 Year. G Month July.  Piano Manufactured  In Korea July 
2002.  Ottostein is contract built for Tom Lee Music.
Knabe is made by SMC.
Roger Jolly
Technical Consultant.
Samick Music Corp.


At 10:04 PM 1/22/2008, you wrote:
>Greetings all --
>
>I just worked on a very nice four year old Ottostein upright piano. The 
>family is Chinese and they purchased the piano new in Hong Kong. Just last 
>month they moved to Los Angeles. The piano was shipped out and arrived 
>about two weeks ago.
>
>Pierce doesn't list the name. But on the piano was a sticker that said Tom 
>Lee Piano Co., which appeared to me at the time to be the name of the 
>store where the piano was purchased. From a Google search it appears that 
>Tom Lee is actually a manufacturer AND a retail outlet with stores in 
>China, Hong Kong and Canada. Pierce indicates that Tom Lee actually makes 
>pianos at its factory in Kowloon, Hong Kong, but Ottostein is not listed 
>in the Pierce Atlas. (The piano has a very low serial number so that's not 
>surprising.)
>
>Parts, and the serial number, KJLG 00254, look very similar to the new 
>Knabe, but I can't at the moment remember whose making those. Does anyone 
>have any experience or further knowledge of Ottostein? There is absolutely 
>nothing wrong with this piano. I'm just curious. Especially since I can't 
>find anything.
>
>Thanks --
>
>-- Geoff Sykes
>-- Los Angeles

From "Geoff Sykes" <thetuner@ivories52.com>

Ah, I'm glad I wasn't imagining the similarities. They really are the same.
Thanks Roger. 
 
-- Geoff Sykes
-- Los Angeles
 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Roger Jolly
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 9:02 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Ottostein piano


Hi Geoff,
                  Made by Samick in the Korean factory.  K Korean, J Decade
2000, L 2 Year. G Month July.  Piano Manufactured  In Korea July 2002.
Ottostein is contract built for Tom Lee Music.
Knabe is made by SMC.
Roger Jolly
Technical Consultant.
Samick Music Corp.


At 10:04 PM 1/22/2008, you wrote:


Greetings all --
 
I just worked on a very nice four year old Ottostein upright piano. The
family is Chinese and they purchased the piano new in Hong Kong. Just last
month they moved to Los Angeles. The piano was shipped out and arrived about
two weeks ago. 
 
Pierce doesn't list the name. But on the piano was a sticker that said Tom
Lee Piano Co., which appeared to me at the time to be the name of the store
where the piano was purchased. From a Google search it appears that Tom Lee
is actually a manufacturer AND a retail outlet with stores in China, Hong
Kong and Canada. Pierce indicates that Tom Lee actually makes pianos at its
factory in Kowloon, Hong Kong, but Ottostein is not listed in the Pierce
Atlas. (The piano has a very low serial number so that's not surprising.)
 
Parts, and the serial number, KJLG 00254, look very similar to the new
Knabe, but I can't at the moment remember whose making those. Does anyone
have any experience or further knowledge of Ottostein? There is absolutely
nothing wrong with this piano. I'm just curious. Especially since I can't
find anything.
 
Thanks --
 
-- Geoff Sykes
-- Los Angeles