Vienna Exposition - F.Baucer 1873 ?

[Yanick]

I have a piano from 1873. It has two seals, of the following description, with the factory name F.BAUCER between them.

Details
on the left. first seal.
FRANZ JOSEPH I, KAISER VON OSTERREICH KOENIG VON BOHEMIA ETCAPOST KOENIG VON UNGARN.

center.
F. BAUCER

on the right. second seal.
WELTAUSSTELLUNG
WEIN 1873
ANKERKENNUNGS-DIPLOMA.

Research provides that this piano once served on display at the Vienna World Exhibition 1873, Although No www information can be found regarding F.BAUCER, or indeed any piano factory of this name. Help with information on this upright would be grand.

The seal bears some kind of appointment issued by Kaiser Franz Joseph I for the 1873 exhibition. Franz Joseph is historically known as King of Bohemia, and Hungary, brother of Franz Ferdinand who's assaination inspired events leading to WW1. Similar seals can be found on other rare objects, that must also have been affiliated with the 1873 expo.

The piano is slightly beat and dusty, but mostly in good condition. Structuraly perfect, with original intact cast Iron sound Board. Perhaps one of the first of its kind and a possible reason for inclusion into the 1873 vienese expo. It has a burled walnut finish.

Internal repairs required. Venear peels from the hinged keyboard cover. for possible re-sale. Restorers please, reply with your thoughts and prices. I am particularly interested in those that have experience restoring Burled Walnut veneer for relaminating this curved profile in the manner as first built.

[Bill Kibby]

Thanks for your posting and email. I apologise for spelling the name wrong, it appears to be Baucer. I presume that you do not really suggest that the soundboard would have been made of cast iron, and although cast iron frames developed differently, at different times, in different firms, there was nothing new or novel about the idea by 1873. You have mentioned twice that you have done research and proved that this individual piano was at the 1873 exhibition. I hope this "proof" is not based simply on the fact that the medals are represented on the front of the piano. The medals were a status symbol which makers showed on all their pianos for many years after the exhibitions. The same applies to many other trades, where makers illustrated the medals on their goods, and on their advertisements. This is not peculiar to the 1873 Vienna exhibition.
See the many examples at
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/piano ... tions.html

You should be able to find a catalogue of the exhibition in a library somewhere, and check that Baucer was there, but this does not prove that your piano was the one displayed.

[Malc]

Hi folks,

I'm new to this forum and am seeking information on the type of piano described in this thread. Mine has the same medal, dated 1873, under the music rest. It's an upright but is smallish as it stands only 1123mm high.

The serial number is 5181.

I am trying to find out its age. I appreciate that valuations can't be given but I'd like to know whether it might be a rare type, worth keeping. It is "tuneable" and seems to be in fairly good condition, missing only 2 pieces of ivory.

I have consulted a US-based information website but its experts have no information on this piano.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Malc.
Australia

[Bill Kibby]

I have received several other enquiries about Baucer, and this reinforces my argument that there would have been many pianos with that marking, all it tells us is that the piano was made after the 1873 exhibition. No dates of Baucer serial numbers are available. Rarity has no value in itself, and Victorian pianos are usually worth very little unless they have been professionally restored.

[wendyw]

I have a baby grand with similar markings on the front... but a different maker... but my tuner believes my piano to be much older than when the World's Fair was held in Vienna... could they have switched the key cover????

[Bill Kibby]

If you email photos to me, I may be able to estimate the age, but if it mentions the 1873 exhibition specifically, it must have been made after that event.