Model Description Page

5 - OCTAVE FORTEPIANO AFTER WALTER

Specifications / Price List / Terms

Anton Walter (1752-1826) is widely acknowledged as one of the most important fortepiano makers in Vienna from the 1780's through the 1820's. In terms of design innovation, production, and popularity with musicians, perhaps only the Streicher establishment was comparable.

Like many of his peers, Walter was not native to Vienna but had relocated there to establish a business under the culturally rich umbrella of the Hapsburg capital. In this atmosphere the arts prospered. Refinements in fortepiano design were inevitable, due to the burgeoning number of new piano factories, competitive instrument makers, and the strong presence of many extraordinary musicians. Mozart and Beethoven owned Walter instruments and Shubert also knew them. In 1804 Walter had twenty journeymen employed in a shop capable of producing more than one hundred instruments in a year.

The musical qualities of Walter instruments are still evident in several fine extant originals, which dramatically demonstrate a robust character, wide dynamic range and subtly changing colors throughout the registers. His fortepianos were very reliable mechanically as well as innovative in structural and tonal design. The Walter-designed soundboard, stringing and bridge produce an instrument of forthright voice while also capable of a darker and more reserved tone. Although these diverse qualities may challenge players of the modern piano, they belong to the Viennese musical language of that era and speak in our own time with remarkable freshness.

Our intent is to keep Walter's practical design, original dimensions and materials. His keyboards were built for easy removal. We have added an adjustable prell rail along with individually adjustable backchecks which make possible quick routine action adjustments.

WALTER SPECIFICATIONS

Design source: Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg
Keyboard: FF to g3 compass; double strung to a1 sharp; triple strung to g3; ebony naturals, bone-topped sharps
Pitch: A - 430
Action: Individual backchecks, adjustable prells and prell rail
Knee levers: Left side moderator; right side damper lift
Case work: Vertical grain mahogany veneer with decorative brass ornaments. Other woods by quote. Quartersawn spruce frame. Polished shellac or resin oil varnish finish.
Legs: Five square tapered legs with brass ferrules
Weight: 180 lbs.
Dimensions: 87" x 40" x 11 1/2"
Other: Maintenance manual with regulation specifications

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WALTER PRICE LIST
(Winter 1996)

Five octave Viennese fortepiano after Walter.................$25,000

Upholstered bench with inclined seat and
matching brass leg fer les; fabric to be selected.....................385

Padded McIntosh cover, leg case and piano strap;
white flannel lining, sewn handles at two ends along spine......375

Concert room stage dolly............................................by quote

Special veneer pattern work in keywell
and desk areas...........................................................by quote

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6 1/2 - OCTAVE FORTEPIANO AFTER GRAF

Specifications / Price List / Terms

Conrad Graf (1782-1851) was one of Vienna's most prominent fortepiano makers, his career distinguished by the imperial K.K. court appointment in 1824 and a gold medal at the 1835 Vienna trade exhibition. Known and respected throughout the European continent, his instruments were used by such musicians as Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Wieck and Liszt. Before he sold his flourishing business in 1842, his shop produced nearly 3,000 pianos, of which just over 60 remain today. Like those of his predecessor Anton Walter, Graf's instruments represent mainstream Viennese pianomaking of the time.

From the 1790's into the first decade of 1800's, the fast-growing demand for the fortepiano accompanied notable advances in its design. Graf benefitted from the rise of specialty-part and hardware suppliers (which reduced in-house production of small metal action components and decorative brass hardware), allowing him to concentrate on action design, production and other musical refinements. By 1820, the keyboard compass had expanded to six and one-half octaves - where it remained throughout Graf's career - and this expansion, with a higher overall string tension, required substantially heavier wood frames; the result was a fuller sound and greater resonance. Smoother now in its gradations of color, the more powerful instrument was capable of new "orchestral" sonorities and effects and ready for the romantic representations of Schumann and Liszt.

Our Graf fortepiano follows the original design features and materials as closely as possible, including the oak and fir laminated frame and the brass overspun bass strings. Small individual adjustment screws are used in the escapement system to simplify regulation. Our instrument includes the same removable oversoundboard that served as a sound-blending feature in instruments of the period.

GRAF SPECIFICATIONS

Design source: Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg and private collections in the United States and Europe
Keyboard: CC to g4 compass; triple strung throughout with the five lowest notes duple brass overspun
Pitch: A - 435
Action: Individual backchecks, adjustable prells and prell rail
Pedals: Una corda, Bassoon, Moderator and Damper
Case work: Vertical grain mahogany with decorative brass ornaments. Other woods by quote. Polished shellac or resin oil varnish finish.
Legs: Three turned legs with brass ferrules
Weight: 395 lbs.
Dimensions: 96 1/2" x 49 1/2" x 13 1/2"
Other: Maintenance manual with regulation specifications

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GRAF PRICE LIST
(Winter 1996)

6 1/2 - octave Viennese fortepiano after Graf....................$35,500

Upholstered bench with matching brass leg ferrules;
inclined seat, fabric to be selected.........................................385

Padded McIntosh cover, leg case and piano strap;
white flannel lining, sewn handles at both ends along spine.....450

Concert room stage dolly.....................................................450

Janissary pedal stops, soundboard drum or bells...........by quote

Extra finish coats - additional polishing work.................by quote

Special veneer pattern work in keywell
and desk areas.............................................................by quote

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TERMS

Prices are subject to change and may be adjusted annually from the date of this price list. A final price will be confirmed at the time a contract is written. Before work will begin, a down payment of one-third of the purchase price is required. A second installment of one-third will be due while the instrument is mid-way through construction with the balance to be paid upon delivery.

All prices are F.O.B. Coeymans Hollow. New York State residents add sales tax. Delivery expenses will be billed at cost. Delivery dates are dependent upon current production schedule.

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