Weber, Berlin piano

[Bill Kibby]

If this is F. Weber, these are often found to be a commercial-quality german piano of the 1890s or early 1900s, but some F. Weber pianos are still quite functional, with interesting case decoration. There are usually medals shown at each side of the name, presuambly exhibition medals, one from 1879, but no other details are available yet, because the examples I have tuned are illegible. In 1879 F. Weber seems to have received an exhibition medal for his pianos, which is mentioned on later instruments. In 1883 F. Weber seems to have received a medal at an Exhibition in Leipzig, but it could be 1913, because of the way the two halves of each are shown. In 1888 Weber received a medal at the Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne. Details of these are not clear on the pianos I have tuned.

In general, most pianos which seem "unique" are mass-produced, and there may have been hundreds or thousands made. The two pedals were the normal arrangement. When you say that it "pulls out like a drawer", I presume you mean that the keys and action are combined in one integral unit: This is quite normal on many german uprights of the late 1800s. The 6 medals are probably both sides of 3 medals, and they only indicate that the piano was made after Weber received medals at those exhibitions, so the piano was made after the latest date shown, which seems to be 1889. You say you have traced the medals, no doubt Mr Phalempin may have received medals there, but so did a lot of other people, surely there is no way that an illustration on a piano can tell you that these were his particular medals? Strangely, Weber is not listed in the catalogue as a contributor at the 1880 Melbourne exhibition.