Forster Leipzig upright

[claraclara]

Hi. I would like to learn history of the brand "Forster Leipzig" but could find really little information.

Recently I acquired a black upright Forster Leipzig, serial number 14791. My tuner was appassionate to see it the first time and thought it's an August Forster. Now I know he's wrong to say that. However the sound of this piano is deep and clean, it's in almost perfect condition, and all the parts are original. Size around cm 180 x 150. I upload here some pictures. Any information regarding the brand and history of its production in general and my piano in particular will be greatly welcome a appreciated.

BTW it doesn't seem Wilhelm as described on this forum. I read a short note about H. Horster & Co. (Hermann Forster), piano maker in Leipzig operating during 1895-1929. Anyone knows anything about this brand?

Thank you.

Clara

[Bill Kibby]

Aug. Forster was in Lobau, not Leipzig. The other well-known Forster was in Czechoslovakia. Your Forster is probably Wilhelm, but I have no information about the company at all, and no knowledge of Hermann Forster. Someone on this forum said that Wilhelm was in business from 1832 to 1891, but that doesn't fit this piano. At least some of Wilhelm's pianos were marked "Wilhelm Forster, Leipzig". Hermann also put his first name on his pianos, but the origin of "Forster - Leipzig" pianos is not clear. No dates of serial numbers are available, but this looks like something from the early twenties.

Ask your tuner to check whether the action makers' name and number appears on the rear of the action, I may be able to date this at the bottom of my numbers page at
http://www.pianohistory.info/

If you search Google Images for Forster Leipzig, there are a few examples, but most on the net are Aug. Forster.

[claraclara]

I got confirm from August Forster, saying that Forster Leipzig pianos are not from their fractory.

Thank you very much for your reply, and I will do as what you just said. My tuner will be back to tune and clean and adjust the interior part of my piano in a couple of months since it has just been moved to my home. I don't know if he'll be disapointed to find out that it is not August Forster, although this piano really has a great sound, and my tuner is going to clean it and "keep it in good playing condition for next 50 years" as he said. I'll see and let you know.

Have a nice afternoon.

Clara

[Gill the Piano]

The style of it is remarkably like a piano i tune for a lady who bought it over from Poland and she said the sticky-up bit on the top was fairly common on East European pianos, so the Czech idea would tally with that.

[mspiano]

Hi there

I too have a Foster Leipzig and have tried finding some information about the piano makers to no avail. I live in Sydney Australia and my piano does not have a piece up top. It is a according to my piano tuner a beautiful sounding instrument.

My mum purchased it for me 41 years ago and unfortunately she is no longer around to ask where she got it from and how much it cost.

Cheers

Mspiano

[Bill Kibby]

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean about a "piece up top".

[NewAge]

Hi there

I too have a Foster Leipzig and have tried finding some information about the piano makers to no avail. I live in Sydney Australia and my piano does not have a piece up top. It is a according to my piano tuner a beautiful sounding instrument.

My mum purchased it for me 41 years ago and unfortunately she is no longer around to ask where she got it from and how much it cost. Cheers Mspiano

The 'piece up top' being referred to is certainly the extended embellishment at the top of the rear panel.
Here in the links below are other Foster Leipzig pianos without the extended embellishment (if one compares with the photo supplied by the original poster in 2012).
http://www.ruan-decoratie.nl/wp-content ... 24x768.jpg

http://www.yell.com/static/image/a7d813 ... 2/m:FitPad

[Bill Kibby]

These galleries were often nothing to do with the manufacturers of the pianos, but were added in the piano showrooms, to customers' orders. You could buy them from Army & Navy Co-Operative for example. It's fair to add that the German ones tend to be original.

[Dieter]

Information about Förster ... see https://www.dieter-gocht.de/?page_id=2489 (in German)