Help about Piano History and Value!!!

[jshell44]

Hello Everyone,

I need some help trying to find out information about a piano that I have. I have know idea how to validate the history. The piano is an 1876 Knabe Concert Grand. The piano is unlike any I have ever seen. It is made from Brazilian Rosewood and measures 10 feet 3 inches in length. The Piano is very detailed with carvings all around the cabinet. Also has 4 carven heads on the cabinet thought to be Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and Mr. Knabe himself. It is said it took 10 complete years to build to get ready for the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial World's Fair. It is thought to have won a gold medal in the expo and could have started the opening ceremonies of the expo. I have contacted a couple of piano directors of different organizations with pictures and details. They both have said if the history is right is should belong in a museum. It really is an amazing piano, but I would like to get it authenticated before I sell it. Almost finished building a new modern home and have no where to put it. Would really like to find someone who will enjoy the piano. If anyone has any information where I could find this history and get it authenticated, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Josh

[pianolive]

Yes it is a wonderfull piece of workmanship. Would be nice to see a photo of the action if possible.
Steinway also made a grand for that fair and got a gold medal and surely other US manufacturers were represented. I would not pay too much attention to the medals though. On these fairs where they show up all kinds of industry products, everybody got medals. For the pianos the medals was not given for their quality as music instruments, but for the piano as an industry product.
You can see similar pianos from all well known piano makers. I think there is a special made Steinway like this in the White House.
If you google on the Fair, I think you can find people who have written about it.
Is Knabe now a part of Samick? Maybe they have access to the old files.
Your piano should be taken well care of!

[pianopassionate]

Although Samick currently owns the Knabe name (after brief ownerships by PianoDisc and Sohmer), it was part of the Aeolian-American conglomerate for many decades, and when Aeolian was liquidated in the mid 1980s, all the records were either destroyed or were included with the sale of its machinery, parts, and work-in-progress. In addition to contacting Samick for info, you could try contacting PianoDisc (the Sohmer name is also owned by Samick), and perhaps even research the law firm that handled Aeolian's bankruptcy (should be public records). I hope this helps you. Some links that may be of interest:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolian_Company
https://rocwiki.org/Aeolian-American_Piano_Corporation