I ran across one of these from late 1870's, almost identical, at a high school in 2018. Posted pics and asked for feedback here. Received a lot of information and interesting opinions about what it was, what to do with it, etc. Here is that thread...
https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MessageKey=69728c99-34c0-47e6-963a-69b82f73e308&CommunityKey=6265a40b-9fd2-4152-a628-bd7c7d770cbf&tab=digestviewer#bm69728c99-34c0-47e6-963a-69b82f73e308 The school, of course, had NO money to invest in this thing. It had been carelessly donated to the school, in this condition, and the best thing they could do with it is use it as a table. Sad. Being a Viennese action piano, even in good condition the school really had no use for it. One day I showed up to tune the other four pianos in the band room and it was gone.
Yeah, even though it was ancient technology, and would never compare to a modern piano, it was gorgeous. Had the right person been found to adapt it, and the right person found to restore it, it would have been an interesting piece.
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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-30-2021 10:01
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: Frederick Ehrbar
Ran into this yesterday. Badly cracked pinblock. Several soundboard cracks. It seems to have what I would describe as a "bridge cap" instead of the usual pressure bars or agraffes (some cracks). s/n OPG420? (I think) Action reasonably functional, though needs regulation. Hammers didn't look too bad. Customer would like to sell it so he can afford a serviceable instrument. Anyone interested in a project?
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Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
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