Here are my results of the past year of research of Foster & Co. pianos.

The art case Foster was built in 1912-1914.  A few more examples of
these pianos have surfaced.  A very few of these were oak veneer, and
even rarer is rosewood or burl walnut.  This piano cost about $650 new,
FOB Rochester NY.

On this style case, standard (non-player) sides were always used.
The sides were extended with 4" boards doweled into the sides.  This
provided the extra depth it needed for the player action.  It is not
likely that Foster actually built this piano case.  The workmanship
and method is very different compared to later examples of case con-
struction.  The inside color inside the keybed is a dark brown, not
black.  Red oxide primer is almost an exact match.

Piano pedals were Norris with brass inserts.  This piano was 53" tall,
but the plate was installed 1" above the bottom of frame.  Player
action' was always a Standard double-valve action.  The middle pedal
lifted the dampers from the bass strings.  Damper linkage was on the
right side of the piano.  There were six lag bolts across the top of
the plate.  The plate casting during these years were poorly cast,
rough looking, and too thin in the tuning pin area.  This type of plate
had problems cracking in the honeycomb (tuning pin area).  Nice artwork
on the plate.

1915-1919: Plain looking case, cheaply made.  Plate was redesigned,
thicker and smoother casting.  This one had only five (in some cases
only four after 1916) lag bolts across the top.  Norris looking pedals,
but no brass buttons.  Still a Standard double-valve action, although
Art Reblitz rebuilt a 1915 Foster that had a two-tier Standard.  Plate
artwork was still present, although more conservative.

1920-1924: This is the "garden variety" Foster.  These years had a
redesigned name plate that spelled out the name "Foster & Company"
in fancy script, instead of "Foster & Co." of the earlier years.  The
piano casters were cheap pressed steel (instead of cast iron) which
always bend under the weight and seize up.  There is a "guarantee"
varnish decal on the inside top which is now a one piece "empire top."
About 1920-21 single-action Standards and Marque Ampico actions were
installed.

I have found a couple of Foster advertising items that I now have in
my collection: a "post card" of a Wild West scene advertising Foster
pianos, and a small paper doll that simply states "Foster pianos,
Tuesday."

To date, a sales brochure has never turned up.  That would complete
the collection.

Cheers,

Andy Taylor