Richard Friedman posted, on May 8, 2015, a message about the Knabe
concert grand piano that was shown in the film "Nothing Lasts Forever".
Richard is correct about the history of the Knabe.

After the Ampico demonstrations ended due to the Depression and the
declining Ampico market, this piano was sold and placed in a Long
Island manor house.  Although the Knabe's first owner resided in
a large coastline Long Island mansion offering numerous rooms for
placement, the second story ballroom was selected for the pianos
location.  When the home was later expanded, the resulting architecture
precluded any normal egress for the removal of the piano, which was
removed from the house through the second story balcony doors by means
of a crane.

The piano was then purchased by Robert Marion Frasier in the 1970's
and moved to his 12 E. 12th Street Manhattan loft/workshop.  He
restored portions of the instrument, including the Ampico B system,
and he then advertised the piano for sale in the Spring 1978 and Fall
1979 sales bulletin of the Mechanical Music Center, Inc., in Darien,
Connecticut.

The Knabe was purchased in the early 1980's by The Ballroom, a dinner
theater and cabaret on 28th Street in Manhattan, similar to those in
the 1920's and 1930's which featured vocalists, comic performers, and
dancers.  The Ballroom opened with the Knabe accompanied by the popular
1940s and 1950s vocalist, Margaret Whiting, daughter of Richard Whiting,
the famous composer of many early twentieth century popular songs.
Other vocalists and musicians to use this Knabe included Rosemary
Clooney, Helen O'Connell, Rose Marie, Peggy Lee, Patti Page, Helen
Schneider, Lonette McKee, Blossom Dearie, Eartha Kitt, and Yma Sumac.

In the 1980's the world famous harmonica artist, Larry Adler, recorded
a CD with this Knabe concert grand, with Ellis Larkins, pianist, titled
"Larry Adler: "Live at The Ballroom" on Newport Classic NCD 60019.  In
addition, another CD was made of the piano playing Ampico rolls titled
"The Performing Piano - Amazing Live Performances by Legendary Master
of the Keyboard - Realized on the Knabe Ampico & Reproducing Piano",
Newport Classic, NC 6002.

This New York City culinary/cabaret venture was not long sustained,
due to declining demand, and the piano was taken again to a Long Island
residence prior to being sold to a local historic piano collector, Rick
Smith, who ultimately sold it to me in 2002.  Since these historical
performances, I have had artists Vikki Carr, Dylan Meek, Konstantyn
Travinskyy, Anna Fedorova, Ruusamari Teppo, grandaughter of Jean
Sibelius, Frederick Hodges, Dotan Nitzberg, Steven Harlos, and many
other students and professors from the local universities to perform
on or with this instrument.

I had it completely restored in 2005 and it is enjoyed continuously
and resides in Dallas, Texas.  To see a published article on this
instrument, please see "The AMICA Bulletin", Volume 47, Number 5,
September/October 2010.

Kenneth Long
Texas