In 170111 MMDigest I wrote of a Knabe Ampico with some unusual
features, presently in Paris, France, being prepared for return to
the USA.  At the time, my primary concern was how to prepare the
owner for the possibly arduous paperwork task that is likely to
arise concerning the keyboard with elephant ivory coverings.

One element in the process is determining, with documentation and
authority, the date of manufacture.  This has turned out to be an
elusive pursuit, as the owner has been unable to locate the serial
number, despite my educated guesses and instruction of where to find
it.

The owner claims that no number is in evidence on the "top side",
either stamped into the soundboard (which has been refinished), or
stenciled or painted anywhere on the plate.  I suggested looking for
a date code which can frequently be found stamped into one corner of
the pump plate.  This plate (and other features, such as a non-unit
valve push-rod stack), is NOT painted black, indicative of an early,
perhaps "Stoddard" action.  I believe that date code stamped plates
were a later feature, and that most, if not all, will be painted
(black).

Asking the owner to be more aggressive in the hunt, I was first sent
the image of the number "110357" stamped twice next to each other,
with not much surrounding visual context as to where in the piano it
is.  As that number corresponds to 1933 (for Knabe) I immediately
discounted it as the serial number, opining to the owner that it was
probably a "case number".  (See first attached photo.)

I was then sent another number (9455) which is clearly on the underside
of the pedal lyre crown (photo #2).  Again, this cannot be the serial
number (1800s), but is more likely the true case number, with the first
number being specific to some Ampico component; call it an "assembly"
number for want of a better term.

Still nagging at me were the fallboard decal, with the verbose
"Wm.  Knabe & Co. Established 1837" (photo #3).  These seem to have
given way to simply "Knabe" in later years.  The "weighty" looking case
rim likewise points to an earlier date.  The very "normal" looking
drawer says mid to late 1920s, so what is really going on?

I asked for, and was sent photos of the drawer treble end in extended
position so I could see the mounting and anti-sway technique.  This
also seemed "late", although the linkage arms were fairly short and the
pivots secured with cotter pins, not nuts and bolts.  Fortunately, the
owner unwittingly provided an additional, unasked for photo that
supplied a crucial piece of evidence.

Photo #4 looks straight up from the end of the drawer to the underside
of the keybed.  There we can clearly see one empty screw hole and the
"shadow" of where the original, probably Stoddard or very early "A"
drawer had been mounted with the sliding wood panel design.  The rollers
are surface mounted, not routed into the keybed.

Clearly, someone had gone to _a lot_ of trouble at some unknown time
in the past to replace the original drawer with this later one.  So I'm
coming down with the date of 1920, +/- 2 years.  If we can get it to
1917 (100 years old), maybe we will have an easier time with the ivory.
(Thanks to several people who suggested procedures to help move that
along.)

Does there exist anywhere a cross-reference between true serial numbers
and case numbers?  They _should_ track fairly closely chronologically.
If there is anyone out there in MMD Land with a Knabe case number close
to 9455 that knows their serial number with certainty, I would like to
hear from you.  Even better would be a photo of your serial number,
showing its location, that I can forward to the owner for one last
attempt to locate it.  Thanks in advance.

John Grant

 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/02/21/170221_161343_Knabe%20Stamped%20Number.jpg 
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/02/21/170221_160919_Knabe%20Image%20of%209455.jpg 
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/02/21/170221_160919_Knabe%20Fallboard%20Decal.jpg 
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/17/02/21/170221_160919_Knabe%20Drawer%20Mounting.jpg