Forster symmetrical grand

macelrod · Post by **macelrod** » 06 Jul 2006, 15:18

I have acquired a Forster-Leipzig baby grand piano, far less elaborate than the last Forster-Leipzig decribed on the Forum. It has simple square legs. Accoring to a decal, it was purchased at Bemeng House of Music, Toronto. The most unusual feature seems to me to be that it is curved on both sides, i.e., no straight side. I would be interested in knowing anything about Forster-Leipzig in general and their baby grands in particular.

Rachael-Mc · Post by **Rachael-Mc** » 19 Nov 2006, 16:54

i also have a Forster-Leipzig baby grand, and like yours mine has no straight side. Inside is made of brass and has a heart carved into it. It also has a portrait carved in brass with 'Forster-Leipzig' around it. I dont know anything about my piano either and would love to know. I have looked for a serial number on mines but can't find it, does yours have one?

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 19 Nov 2006, 21:23

I have combined your two postings about this subject: The "brass" you mention will be cast iron painted gold, and you can easily check this by using a magnet. "Symmetrical Grands" were made by several firms. Although it is usual for grands to be wing-shaped, with the treble (right-hand) end shorter than the bass end, some have been built with a symmetrical shape, or even semi-circular. Monington & Weston made symmetrical grands. G. Hoffman, Berlin, made a symmetrically rounded grand piano in 1804. In 1891, Carl Ecke was making symmetrically-rounded cases, which continued at least to 1921. Our 1905 Ibach catalogue illustrates that company's symmetrical grand. Forster was established at Lobau in 1859, but we do not now during what period he made the symmetrical grands, so although you say there is no serial number, it would be useful to find it, and it must be hidden somewhere, perhaps underneath, or on removable parts pf the case, such as the music desk or the blocks at the ends of the keyboard. Alternatively, we may be able to date the action. See the numbers item at pianogen.org

macelrod · Post by **macelrod** » 19 Nov 2006, 22:09

Rachael-Mc said "I also have a Forster-Leipzig baby grand ... I have looked for a serial number on mines but can't find it, does yours have one?"

No serial number which I can find, but I don't want to remove any parts to look for it. Two things have been done to my piano because it was in a church: concert wheels on a metal frame which is handy, and a humiditer/heater, which my tuner says was needed because a church is not heated during the week, but not needed in a home. People are interested to see how the bass strings are done with no straight side - crisscrossing the treble ones.

J. McRee Elrod

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 20 Nov 2006, 00:15

The "crisscrossing" is overstringing, this is not because of the shape.