Kasoneck Leipzig

[Kasoneck]

Hi

We've had a baby grand piano in our living room for a long time, but I've never been able to find out anything about it. The only markings I can find on it are:

"Kasoneck - Leipzig", which is on the inside of the lid

"2087" - this is on the frame

I haven't been able to find out anything about this on the internet, I can't even locate another piano of the same make. Has anyone even heard of the make of this piano?

A friend suggested the case and the harp weren't always one. I should really get a picture on here, that'll be my next priority!

[Bill Kibby]

I know what you mean by the "harp", but it isn't separate from the case, you can't just swap them around, what is more likely is that some of the decorative work on the case has changed, the structure will almost certainly be original. I have over twenty thousand piano names on file, most are not listed on the internet, and many are meaningless aliases. Sadly, I have funding or no way of actively researching information from Leipzig. A lot of their history was destroyed by the allied bombing. If you email photos to me, I may be able to tell you more. If you know how to remove the action safely (the working parts of the notes) it may be marked with the action makers' name and number, and we may be able to date this.

[Kasoneck]

That explains a lot! Huge sections of the town were destroyed, so the history is terribly fragmented.

Is this how I'd remove the action? ...

http://www.ineed2know.org/disassemble-grand-piano.htm

[Bill Kibby]

That seems a reasonable description, and it does go some way towards pointing out the dangers of breaking hammers when you pull out the action. There must be no pressure at all on any of the keys when you do this. Check also that you can see that every hammer is properly down, and none are sticking up. However, once the fall ("key cover") has been removed, you may be able to see the action maker's name and number on the rail to which the hammers are screwed, without the need to pull the action out. Any other information or markings you can find anywhere on the piano may help. Before looking underneath, get someone to lift each corner in turn, and check that the legs are safe and absolutely rigid. Even the slightest movement of a leg joint is extremely dangerous. Any removable parts may be stamped with a number, which is interesting to know, but won't help you!

[Kasoneck]

Thanks for your help so far Bill

I'll have a crack at it tonight without pushing my ability beyond its limit. I've no previous experience with dismantling a piano, so i'll incessantly follow your advice.

I'll take some snaps of the piano also. Inside and out.

Quite excited!
Ben

[Kasoneck]

Right - I've had it in pieces and I feel no closer to finding out what this piano is.

I've taken several pictures;















Do these shed any light on the history of this piano?

[Bill Kibby]

Without knowing the name of the action maker, I can only guess that it might be by Kohler, 1908 or Langer, 1909. I feel this piano is more modern than 1909. It seems a very short baby grand, perhaps more like twenties? How long is it? Baby grands of the 1900s are notoriously difficult to date by sight, because they are all so similar. The case is not distinctive, but the action has unusual shapes, which someone may recognise.