Pianotech

I posted this thread/topic on Piano History a few days ago. A new client has an 1869 Steinway Style 1 that was owned by Ernest Schilling ho was a child prodigy trained in Paris and also took three years of instruction from the great Paderewski . Many of his concerts were done on Mason & Hamlin grand pianos but this particular instrument came into his possession at some point and he performed on Steinways as a Steinway artist. The current owner had it restored in 1972 after purchasing it at auction in poor condition covered in grime,dirt,soot with broken strings..I am trying to trace its path from the time it was built until today to determine its provenance. The story is that it was used in performances all over the world and in multiple US cities however the task of establishing that as fact is quite daunting although many editions of the Music Trade Review state that he played the Steinway. I am trying to find a Steinway & Sons catalog showing the style 1 in it but have only found catalogs from the 1880's and later. There are many interesting things about this piano worth study including exposed block, partial perimeter plate, forward angled tuning pins, agraffes on all 85 notes

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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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Could you take a bunch of pictures for us?  I'd be at least one tech who would be totally interested!

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Ted Rohde
Central Illinois
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2019 19:08
From: James Kelly
Subject: 1869 Steinway & Sons Style 1

I posted this thread/topic on Piano History a few days ago. A new client has an 1869 Steinway Style 1 that was owned by Ernest Schilling ho was a child prodigy trained in Paris and also took three years of instruction from the great Paderewski . Many of his concerts were done on Mason & Hamlin grand pianos but this particular instrument came into his possession at some point and he performed on Steinways as a Steinway artist. The current owner had it restored in 1972 after purchasing it at auction in poor condition covered in grime,dirt,soot with broken strings..I am trying to trace its path from the time it was built until today to determine its provenance. The story is that it was used in performances all over the world and in multiple US cities however the task of establishing that as fact is quite daunting although many editions of the Music Trade Review state that he played the Steinway. I am trying to find a Steinway & Sons catalog showing the style 1 in it but have only found catalogs from the 1880's and later. There are many interesting things about this piano worth study including exposed block, partial perimeter plate, forward angled tuning pins, agraffes on all 85 notes

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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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I believe you mean Ernest Schelling not Schilling, right?

A good starting place would be:  https://www.lib.umd.edu/ipam/collections/ernest-schelling

There might be a huge collection of programs, etc and there might be written recollecions about this piano.

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Richard Adkins
Piano Technician
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2019 19:08
From: James Kelly
Subject: 1869 Steinway & Sons Style 1

I posted this thread/topic on Piano History a few days ago. A new client has an 1869 Steinway Style 1 that was owned by Ernest Schilling ho was a child prodigy trained in Paris and also took three years of instruction from the great Paderewski . Many of his concerts were done on Mason & Hamlin grand pianos but this particular instrument came into his possession at some point and he performed on Steinways as a Steinway artist. The current owner had it restored in 1972 after purchasing it at auction in poor condition covered in grime,dirt,soot with broken strings..I am trying to trace its path from the time it was built until today to determine its provenance. The story is that it was used in performances all over the world and in multiple US cities however the task of establishing that as fact is quite daunting although many editions of the Music Trade Review state that he played the Steinway. I am trying to find a Steinway & Sons catalog showing the style 1 in it but have only found catalogs from the 1880's and later. There are many interesting things about this piano worth study including exposed block, partial perimeter plate, forward angled tuning pins, agraffes on all 85 notes

------------------------------
James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message------

I posted this thread/topic on Piano History a few days ago. A new client has an 1869 Steinway Style 1 that was owned by Ernest Schilling ho was a child prodigy trained in Paris and also took three years of instruction from the great Paderewski . Many of his concerts were done on Mason & Hamlin grand pianos but this particular instrument came into his possession at some point and he performed on Steinways as a Steinway artist. The current owner had it restored in 1972 after purchasing it at auction in poor condition covered in grime,dirt,soot with broken strings..I am trying to trace its path from the time it was built until today to determine its provenance. The story is that it was used in performances all over the world and in multiple US cities however the task of establishing that as fact is quite daunting although many editions of the Music Trade Review state that he played the Steinway. I am trying to find a Steinway & Sons catalog showing the style 1 in it but have only found catalogs from the 1880's and later. There are many interesting things about this piano worth study including exposed block, partial perimeter plate, forward angled tuning pins, agraffes on all 85 notes

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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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