Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum Conover 9 ft 4 in. concert grand from 1910

I am the owner of a huge Conover (Cable) concert grand. It has a white oak rim, two lid props and a very wide toe end. The bottom A0 is incredibly clean fundamental. It was used first by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, then sold to a church south of there, then I bought it. Does anyone know of this model, history, success in rebuilding, other owners? It has a model 100 cast in the plate. It looks like a Mason & Hamlin from that era, especially the double lid props. Thanks.

Cable owned Mason & Hamlin for a while, so it could be a very similar design. Mason & Hamlin concert grands seemed to vary a lot, anyway.

It is the same number of bass strings as the CC1 Mason.

Lots of concert grands had the same number of bass strings. Even now, Yamaha has the same number as Steinway.

Post some pictures.

Conover was made by the Cable Company which was originally known as the Conover Cable Piano Company.

AFAIK never affiliated with M&H. Later, Samick attached the name (but not the quality) to pianos made in Indonesia.

A nice quality piano and capable of being a top tier rebuild that would rival anything out there.

However, because it doesn't have the right name, relatively low market value.

The relationship between the Cable Company and Mason & Hamlin is documented in the Wikipedia article about the latter company. I agree that the market value would be low, but it could be a magnificent piano properly restored.

Does it have a tension resonator system? Conover Cable called their version Crownstay. It appears as rods and turnbuckles across the frame under the soundboard.

Old Conover pianos were excellent.

Here's an interesting article talking about the Cable / Mason & Hamlin deal, and the people involved.

http://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1904-38-8/MTR-1904-38-8-23.pdf

"Owned an interest" in M&H doesn't necessarily mean very much in terms of technical cross-pollination -- although apparently that is the route by which Aeolian acquired M&H along with Conover Cable and others.

Pierce's Piano Atlas doesn't seem to mention this connection at all. Interesting.

Many thanks. The Cable Co. Office was one block of the Chicago Symphony on the same Street. No wonder the CSO used one of their pianos.

Please post some pictures.

I've got a Cable (not Conover) from the 20's and it's built like a brick shipyard. It's got a remarkably clear sound, especially for being only 5 feet. I'd love to see what it's bigger cousin looks like. Of course it's also got the Crownstay system with the rods and turnbuckle and stuff, I guess it works because the crown is still there.

Yes, please post some pictures of this piano. The Conover was a fine piano. We rebuilt a 7 ft. + from about the same time period and the final product was beautiful.

Caviat that bears repeating - *This is not a piano to consider putting lots of money into for resale.*

I have also a 5 ft 5 Conover from 1927. Half done, but same deal -- built well, still has crown. I will post some photos once I learn how. The 9 ft 3 in has the action rebuilt, restrung and new pin block a number of years ago. Still sounds great, but to raise it to the level of quality it deserves, it is going in to James Reeder in Lansing, MI for a new soundboard and bridges. Who knows but the Chicago Symphony Orchestra may want it back.

This piano is for me and my wife. Not a business venture, but for pursuit of beauty. I am in pursuit of wonderful sound. I think this Conover will be incredibly satisfying. I will probably loan it to the area NPR radio station which I work for for recordings. Let everyone enjoy.

The Conover is leaving my home and headed to a rebuilder for a new s board, bridge caps, re gilding, rescaling and restringing. Some contributors have seen and appreciated the smaller sizes, but has anyone ever seen this big one? It actually measures 9 ft 3 3/4 inches. A nine foot four!

I have been invited by the Chicago Symphony archivist to peruse the archives for a photo as it was used years ago by the orchestra. Should be fun.

I've seen a few of the model 77s but not a concert grand. Should be most impressive, when rebuilt!