Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > August 2000 > 2000.08.16 > 10Prev  Next


Lauter-Humana Quality & Manufacture Dates
By John A. Tuttle

Hi All,  I want to thank Paul Manganaro for the information he posted
about Lauter in yesterday's MMD.  As soon as I read his article,
I walked briskly to the living room and checked the plate of my
Lauter-Humana (serial number 49963).  Sure enough, there was a
five-digit number embossed on the plate, which was made by Kelly.

Using the method described by Paul, the number (25625) indicates that
my Lauter was made in 1925, not 1915 as indicated in the Pierce Piano
Atlas.

This is disturbing information because it means that I have been giving
out erroneous manufacture dates for over twenty years. :-(  It also
makes me wonder about another piece of information about Lauter that
I heard back in the 1970's.  I was told that there was an article in
the New York Times, in the late 60's, that stated that Lauter-Humana
players with serial numbers between 30,000 and 50,000 were "the best"
regular player pianos ever made in America.

Judging strictly from the condition of the many Lauters I've
encountered, as compared to the relative condition of other makes of
similar age, I have never been able to find fault with the claim made
in the Times.  In fact, the striker pneumatics on my Lauter are still
very supple, the ivories are pearl white, the finish is relatively
clear, and the tone of the bass register puts many small grands to
shame.  All this from an instrument that is 75 years old (revised from
85, which correlates to the serial numbers listed in the Pierce Piano
Atlas).

I did go to the NY Times web site in hopes of searching through the
Archives, but, unfortunately, their on-line Archives only go back to
1996.  So, if anyone has any more definitive information regarding
Lauter-Humana players, I would appreciate hearing what you know.

Musically,

John A. Tuttle
Brick, NJ 08724
http://www.player-care.com/


(Message sent Wed 16 Aug 2000, 13:43:49 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Dates, Lauter-Humana, Manufacture, Quality

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page