Fayette S. Cable

cyberbiker · Post by **cyberbiker** » 04 Nov 2004, 12:40

I just purchased a Fayette S. Cable player piano, everything works, other than some of the "honkey tonk" strips are missing their brass clips. Since these are mounted on a swing-away bar, I'm not worried about them at this time, I just keep them swung away from the action. The case and soundboard are both marked "Fayette S. Cable-Chicago" and the serial number on the soundboard is 159476. Can anyone tell when it was manufactured? Though it's out of tune, (not by much) I'm waiting a month for it to acclimate to it's new home before I have it tuned. Is this long enough, or could I have it tuned sooner without any changes caused by the different humidity, temperature, etc. in it's new home?
All I've been able to find out about it as a Fayette S. Cable is that was the name before Cable bought out Hobart, and should be from the late 19th century. I'm just looking for verification of this, as it's really a beautiful old upright.

Post by **Bill Kibby** » 04 Nov 2004, 18:06

According to my information, it would be 1925, so one of us is well out. It would be interesting to see photos. As for the settling-in period, if the tuning has been neglected, then it's as well to tune it straight away, then it will need it again in a month or two, but there is no fixed rule, only personal opinions, and the experience of different tuners.

cyberbiker · Post by **cyberbiker** » 04 Nov 2004, 20:52

Thanks, Bill, for your reply. I'll accept your information, since I haven't been able to find anything about Cable ever producing a piano with the Fayette S. Cable name. Either way, it has a great tone to it. I went back today to get the bench (was so relieved after laying it on it's back and getting it loaded yesterday by myself that I forgot it)and the man I bought it from gave me a roll for it. He wouldn't let his collection go, they're family heirlooms, while the piano wasn't. After tinkering with it for a bit, including hooking up a vacuum to it, I have everything in working order, and it's pretty impressive.
I've been looking in this area (Northwestern Pennsylvania) for about a year trying to find an upright grand, I just don't think that the spinets have the tone, and I don't have the room for a baby grand. (at least my wife says I don't! *L*) When I saw the ad for this one, I knew it had to be an old upright, all the ad said was that it was a player. For $300 (call it around 150 pounds sterling) I think I did alright.