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MMD > Archives > December 2001 > 2001.12.11 > 05Prev  Next


Mystery Player Piano Sold By Keith Prowse
By Denise Vrana

Hello,  Anyone care to play detective with me today?  My husband and
I recently acquired a player piano.  We have begun to clean it out in
preparation for restoration and are befuddled by what we have found.
Maybe this is common, but we are having trouble figuring out just who
made the piano.  This is what our search has uncovered so far.

The obvious label name is found on keyboard cover: Keith Prowse.
Now, I do know from having read many postings on MMD that Keith Prowse
never actually manufactured any pianos but they did sell pianos made
elsewhere.

On the piano case on the top left corner and stamped on the interior
wood is the number 35724 (most likely the style number of the piano
case).  On the back of keys 1 and 2 is stamped "Triumph Auto" and the
number 11896.  On the harp, mid right in large numbers, is "BB 515".
On the harp, mid bottom, smaller, is # 1187.

On the key hammer damper is the name Herrburger Brooks, and on the
stack just below and to the left of the spool box is the number 3842.

I believe it is an Autopiano.  It has a transposing tracker bar.
We are looking forward to getting this darling going, but we would
appreciate any info anyone could shed on this seemingly mutt of a
piano.

Is it possible it has been restored in the past?  It seems like it is
in pretty good shape but we will be overhauling the tubing, bellows and
pneumatics.  Also, if anyone out there has a similar mutt and would care
to share the quantities of materials needed to do our little labor of
love, please contact me.  Thanks!

Denise Vrana


(Message sent Tue 11 Dec 2001, 14:33:19 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Keith, Mystery, Piano, Player, Prowse, Sold

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