Josef Schneider piano

[Zazuk]

I have a Josef Schneider piano, made in Wien. Under the strings there is a plate having the following text written: fortschritt medaille wiener weltausstellung 1873 pianofortefabrik.
Can you, please, explain the meaning of this plate?

[Bill Kibby]

I can't give you an exact translation, but you could try Google Translate. What it means is that Schneider showed his pianos at the Vienna world exhibition and received a medal. This shows that the piano was made after the 1873 exhibition. For more information, see...
http://pianogen.org/exhibition.html