Great deals on Knabe Piano. It's a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at eBay.com. Fast & Free shipping on many items! Listen to Blake Cooper talk about Knabe piano history. Knabe’s patents were numerous, and their many innovations aided in improving piano design and evolution well into the 20th Century. In 1908 Knabe was purchased by The American Piano Company. During the early 20th Century the firm built some of the finest, most elaborate and expensive pianos in American history. Here are the TOP FIVE places to locate the serial number of your spinet, console, studio, or upright piano: Serial number locations are found: 1) On the piano’s cast iron plate. After lifting up the lid, look along the top front area of the plate. The serial number may be to the right or the left, or in the middle.
Wm. Knabe Pianos remain as one of the most celebrated piano brands in the world.
Despite the long pattern of turnovers and shifts from one owner to another, the long list of turnovers has not changed the quality of the products and the satisfaction Knabe pianos give to whomever plays them.
Company History
The start of Wm. Knabe and Co. pianos can be traced back to the 1830s. After his move to the United States from Germany, William Knabe worked for a well-known piano maker, Henry Hartge, and four years later, in 1837, Knabe started selling and repairing used pianos on his own.
In 1839, Knabe opened a partnership with Henry Gaehle, as Knabe & Gaehle, for the purpose of manufacturing pianos in Baltimore, Maryland. The company made drastic success until the early 1850’s. Following Gaehle’s death in 1855, Knabe advertised that he bought all the rights of the company and continued the business as Wm. Knabe and Co.
Wm Knabe & Co Piano
After his death on May 21, 1864, Wilhem Knabe was succeeded by his son William Knabe and his son-in-law Charles Keidel. In 1908, the Knabe company incorporated, and joined the American Piano Company. In 1932, Aeolian purchased American, and together they formed the Aeolian-American Corporation Knabe became part of the Mason & Hamlin Corporation, along with Falcone, Sohmer, and George Steck.
Today, Wm. Knabe and Co. is one of the top lines of pianos manufactured by Samick Musical Instruments, Ltd.
Present Day Manufacturing
Samick acquired the name Wm. Knabe and Co. from PianoDisc, the owner of Mason and Hamlin in 2001. As of 2007, Samick offers Knabe in seven different designs; three sizes for grand pianos and four sizes for upright pianos.
Samick opened a distributor center and factory in Tennessee where Knabe and other piano lines are manufactured. In 2010, Samick made the announcement that the rims for Knabe pianos are constructed and assembled in Korean factories and shipped to Tennessee to have the actions assembled and regulated.
For over one hundred years, Wm. Knabe and Co. pianos have maintained its name and quality despite the transfer of assets and rights.
More details about Knabe's history can be found at the Knabe Institute website: http://www.knabeinstitute.org/the-knabe-legacy.html
1850 -- 4100 1961 - 164998
1855 -- 5900 1962 - 166559
1860 -- 7400 1963 - 168148
1865 - 10000 1964 - 169626
1870 - 13000 1965 - 171287
1875 - 16000 1966 - 172986
1880 - 20000 1967 - 174764
1885 - 27000 1968 - 176379
1890 - 33000 1969 - 177801
1895 - 43000 1970 - 179259
1900 - 47000 1971 - 180177
1905 - 57000 1972 - 180871
1910 - 68000 1973 - 182171
1915 - 78000 1974 - 183886
1920 - 88000 1975 - 185468
1925 - 97400 1976 - 187038
1929 - 106100 1977 - 188635
1930 - 107300 1978 - 190686
1935 - 114100 1979 - 192324
1940 - 124000 1980 - 194164
1946 - 133500 1981 - 195484
1950 - 144620 1982 - 196284
1955 - 154300 1983 - 197840
1960 - 162750
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Piano serial numbers identify the (1) age of your piano, the (2) piano's year of manufacture, as well as (3) the circumstances surrounding the production of your piano, including factory history, manufacturing processes, and company ownership and oversight.
You can look up a free piano serial number history search from this page (see list of manufacturers, below).
Piano Serial Numbers:
Location, location, location...
Piano serial numbers usually have five to seven digits, but may have fewer or more, depending on the manufacturer and age of your piano. Serial numbers may also include a letter as well.
Here are the TOP FIVE places to locate the serial number of your spinet, console, studio, or upright piano:
Serial number locations are found:
1) On the piano’s cast iron plate. After lifting up the lid, look along the top front area of the plate. The serial number may be to the right or the left, or in the middle.
2) Under the opened lid on the ledge, stamped on a little plaque, to the right or to the left.
3) Stamped on the back of the piano; near the top of the wood frame.
4) Printed on one of the hammers, found on either end of the piano (newer or imported pianos).
5) Printed on one the keys - behind the nameboard, inside the piano (newer or imported pianos).
If you cannot find the serial number in any of the locations listed on this page, please watch the video below, to help find more piano serial number locations.
Grand Piano Serial Numbers
Where Are They Found? ...
Here are the TOP FIVE places to locate the serial number of your BABY GRAND or GRAND piano:
(See this link for a detailed picture of where to look)
Note: You may have to remove the (1) music desk first and (2) gently clean out any dust from your piano's plate [using a soft dry cloth + vacuum hose] before you can find these numbers.
Serial number locations are found:
1) On the piano’s cast iron plate, near the tuning pins, as you face the keys. Look to the right or to the left.
2) The Capo d'astro bar. Located on the right, this acts as a 'bridge' to the 'beams' of the cast iron plate.
3) On the piano's soundboard (see link above for a diagram).
4) On a metal plate underneath the piano's top lid, near the strings and soundboard.
5) Immediate interior [front]: On the back of the [a] keyslip (long wooden ledge, runs along the front/bottom of the piano's keys. The serial number is often hidden and stamped on the other side, facing the keys). On the front of the [b] action frame (after the keyslip is removed), or stamped on [c] one or both of the cheek blocks, viewed to the right and left of the piano's keyboard.
On older pianos, you may find 3-5 screws, underneath the keyslip, that will need to be removed (or, simply lift up, if no screws are present) to view the action frame. The serial number may be stamped on the front of the frame's wooden base, immediately under the keys.
To the right and left of the keys are two end cheek blocks, which are each secured down with a giant bolt or screw, which passes through the piano's keybed, both of which must be removed, to access the interior of the piano (see video, above).
Caution: When unscrewing and removing the cheek blocks, do not mistake the piano's leg screw/bolt, with the cheek block's screw/bolt.
Also, be careful not to drop the cheek blocks once they are removed, which can gouge and permanently damage the piano's case, and the block's delicate condition.
To recap: the piano's serial number may be hidden on the back of the piano'skeyslip (immediately in front of / below the keys), on the action's frontkeyframe, on the cheek blocks (each side), or within the action itself, once removed from the piano.
Scroll down below to find the (1) manufacturer of your piano, and then (2) click on the link to find the serial number.
(Please be patient as we are updating this page on a daily basis. We invite you to SUBSCRIBE to this page, and to use the search box above, as serial numbers are being updated and added on an ongoing basis.)
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The Pierce Piano Atlas, 12th Edition now in hardcover format, provides a wealth of information about the piano manufacturing industry. Over 12,000 piano names are included, some dating back to the early eighteen hundreds. This guide provides references to serial numbers, dates of manufacture, factory locations, a brief history of many manufacturers and other pertinent information.
The Piano Book is the bible of the piano marketplace. An indispensable resource to buyers and owners of pianos, amateur and professional pianists alike. This book evaluates and compares every brand and style of piano sold in the United States.
Knabe Piano Serial Number Location Search
Information on how the piano works, ages, and the difference between different piano brands is discussed in great detail. There is also a wealth of diagrams of parts, information on manufacturing, maintenance, moving and storage, inspecting new and used pianos, the special market for Steinways, and sales gimmicks to watch out for.
Playing Piano for Pleasure is a practical guide to learning and playing the piano for fun! Includes material from the author's interviews with master pianists, artists, and writers. The result is a book that should be cherished for years to come.
Wm Knabe Co Pianos Values
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Knabe Piano Age
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