F. Schmid & Kunz Pianos

[Bill Kibby]

Firstly, a piano with sconces (projecting candleholders) doesn't have to pre-date electricity, they were still used by some in the 1920s. S&K were established in Vienna, 1880, but I have never seen their instruments, although I can tell you that there was an F. Schmid in Vienna in the 1920s. 85 (not 86) was the usual number of notes on british and european pianos for a very long period, even up to the 1960s. I may be able to tell you a little more from photos, but viennese grands are not often seen around here.

[Susan Brodar]

This is the first time I write on a forum so I hope I'm doing things right.

I'd like to reply to all those Schmid & Kunz posts I read since there seem to be many mistakes. I speak German so can read the German posts too. I have finally taken a good look at my family's Baby Grand Piano and it has all the medallions with exhibition etc that others have mentioned plus the sconces. It is opus 1721. According to a German post the company was founded in Vienna in 1880 and closed in 1925, producing for the Austrian court. He says that there is proof that in 1891 opus.Nr. 809 was built and in 1892 opus Nr. 951 therefore mine must be much more recent. As a result the post in which 'Collector' said he has opus 3324 cannot have been built in 1882 and is much more recent than mine. I am still looking for more info. If anyone has more news I'd be very interested. Will update if I find anything else… hope all those who posted on this subject can read my post even though it was almost ten years ago.