I lived in Champaign for 15 years and apprenticed with Paul Gottschalk
for much of that time. The old Lincoln Hotel is in Urbana and is now
part of the Jumer's hotel chain. There is an old square grand in the
lobby that fits the description given in the previous posting. It is
there purely for decoration as it is unrestored and unplayable.
I've never really considered square grands unique I suppose because I
come across them so often. Even here in Utah, where I live now, they
surface regularly. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum must have
at least two dozen - each one carried across the plains in wagons or
handcarts. One piano in particular stands out in my mind. It seems it
got too heavy to pull or the wagon broke down or some such thing. So
they wrapped the piano in buffalo skins and buried it so they could
retrieve it later! Kids, please don't try this at home ;-)
Regards,
Bruce Newman
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