Antique Pianos by Knabe
In 1839, Knabe ventured into the piano making business and these pianos are some of the most desired of all antique pianos. His pianos were second to none in the market.
After the Great War, dealers had stressed price, decoration, pride of possession and social status to the point that Berhold Neuer, vice president of Wm. Knabe and Company said “we’ve lost sight of the piano’s strongest appealas a musical instrument.” Used pianos became the strongest appeal at this time.
In 1891 Knabe brought Tchaikovsky to New York as guest conductor in Carnegie Hall. The engaged great soloists for concert work, creating popularity for the piano in proportion to the growth of wealth in the United States.
The “Nouvesu Art” grand of Knabe and Company is from their catalogue of art pianos, in which all dominant styles are represented.
Wm. Knabe, born in 1803, in Germany, received a superior education, but he preferred to learn the art of piano making. He came to America, learned the English language and the business of America. By 1860 he controlled the entire market of the southern states.
His two sons, trained by Knabe, continued the Knabe piano building. One of the sons journeyed through America selling pianos to be built and thus pulled the company out of grave times. Sadly both sons died in 1889 and 1894 respectively.
American Piano Company incorporated and controlled the Wm. Knabe and Company factories but guarded Knabe’s achievements. The American Piano Company of New York controlled the factories of Chickering and Sons in Boston; Wm. Knabe and Company in Baltimore; Haines Brothers, Marshall and Wendell, Foster and Company, Armstrong, Brewster and J.B. Cook Companies in New York. It was a modern combination of large establishments.
Whenever Knabe pianos were exhibited they invariably were awarded high prizes for superior construction and workmanship.
In 1876, Philadelphia, at the Centennial Exposition, the Knabe large concert grand piano was greatly admired. The virtuosos of the time used the Knabe grand pianos and praised the Knabe tone quality.
