Grand pianos Knabe for sale

The Knabe brand has its place in the history of legendary American grand pianos

William Knabe, like Henry Steinway and Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer, was a German immigrant who gained his woodworking and piano-making skills in Germany. In 1831, he settled in Baltimore, where he initially worked for Henry Hartye and later began repairing and selling pianos independently. In 1837, he founded Wm. Knabe & Co., producing high-quality pianos and grand pianos. Together with his partner Henry Gaehle, they gained recognition and built one of the largest workshops in the southern United States.

In 1854-1855, the Knabe piano workshop faced a major crisis when two factories burned down in a short period, causing huge financial losses. Nevertheless, William Knabe decided to continue production, dissolving the partnership with Henry Gaehle, who passed away shortly thereafter. Despite these challenges, Knabe rebuilt the company, still focusing on producing high-quality instruments. By 1860, Knabe had become a leading brand, employing over 200 people and producing more than 1000 instruments annually, standing alongside brands such as Steinway & Sons and Chickering.

As the Knabe company grew, its operations expanded to prestigious locations, and employment increased significantly. By the early 20th century, the brand had reached Canada and the UK, organizing concerts in venues such as Carnegie Hall and New York Metropolitan Opera. Their instruments were promoted by distinguished musicians, including Piotr Tchaikovsky and Arthur Rubinstein. In 1908, the company became part of the American Piano Company, gradually losing control over production.

As a result of transformations after World War II, the Knabe brand became part of Aeolian-American Corporation and later passed through companies such as Winter & Co., Sohmer & Co., and Mason & Hamlin. Since 2001, it has been owned by the Korean corporation Samick, which operates an office, factory, and distribution center in Tennessee. Samick continues the tradition of Knabe piano construction, though they are now mass-produced. The high quality of these instruments attracted clients such as Walt Disney, Albert Einstein, and Elvis Presley.

It's worth noting that Knabe manufacturers introduced innovations in the placement of agraffes in grand pianos. Agraffes are small components in the piano construction through which the strings are threaded.