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Spinet or Console? Looks close to the tipping point.

Looks pretty comparable to the piano I grew up playing. My Mom said it was a console. It was a fairly small piano that piano techs would call a spinet. I’ll call it a spinet.

That's a Kimball Whitney. The Whitney was always a spinet.

The true definition of whether or not a piano is a spinet or a console, IMHO, is by what kind of action is inside. I really cannot remember if Kimball made any whitney consoles, but I distinctly remember coming across some Kimball products that were tagged as "consolette".

That's right! You guessed it. The cabinets were made to be a little tiny bit taller than the standard 36" to 38" spinet size, but there was still a spinet action inside.

So, I say it is a spinet and... a spinet by any other name, still plays as badly.

My 2 cents,

Incidentally, it’s called out as a used piano to avoid here:
https://www.pianobuyer.com/article/advice-about-used-pianos/

Some of these spinets or consolets are really nice looking !
I have never seen one before moving here.

Spinet!

Neither. It is garbage. Whitneys were terrible pianos.

The Kimball Consolette had a spinet action, but they were somewhat better than Whitneys. The tolerances in Whitney manufacture were so poor that like the Le Petite grands, you could not count on them ever to play close to properly.

Yeah, it's a handsome little guy, isn't it?

Thanks, Rich. As usual, you hit the nail on the head. My real question is whether it has a drop action or not. Not really interested in the drop action.

Thanks. I've never actually touched a Whitney, and know their reputation, but have a sort of soft spot for the brand (Whitney is my middle name).

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Ironically, I actually am looking for a junker. I'm looking for an upright to experiment on. Lots of free or nearly free specimens out there, but people aren't responding lately, probably due to the ongoing pandemic. And the last time I tried to get moving estimates I got no response. So I figured something this sized I could drag home with just a little help, and drag out to the curb when I'm done with it. But, I don't want a drop action.

Correction my Mom’s piano measured 43 inches so indeed it was a console. Sorry Mom!

If only the above were also actually a console... sigh.

But it has an odd appeal, in a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree sort of way.

So, this looks like a proper console!

Question: how much DNA would this likely share with the ubiquitous Baldwin Hamilton upright?

Nice looking Baldwin console piano there, Ret!

As to DNA and the Baldwin (AKA) Hamilton uprights, I've read here on the forum that all Baldwin upright pianos are Hamiltons. But I don't see the word Hamilton anywhere on that console.

That said, the plate does bear a strong resemblance to the Baldwin/Hamilton 243 studio upright I owned for a while. But that doesn't mean it couldn't be a Baldwin without being a Hamilton.

No disrespect or offence meant, but I've noticed that even the experts here can be wrong on occasion.

Good luck!

Rick

I think it is an Acrosonic console. They were fairly decent.

Thanks, Rick. I don't really have a preference for one over the other (Baldwin or Hamilton). I mainly ask because I think I've seen the model everyone seems to like (243) badged as Baldwin, Hamilton, Baldwin Hamilton, Hamilton by Baldwin, etc, so you're probably right about that! And this one seems to be styled very similarly, but shorter. And, now that I look a little closer, the 243 always has a sturdier lower leg assembly (probably because students are pushing them all over the place). And, casework is just that. Probably a million different variations and styles. I do sort of like the plain look of this one, and perhaps that's why it resembles the 243 to me.

Thanks, BDB. That's an interesting observation. For some reason, I always equate Acrosonic with spinets. Maybe because there were a lot of them. I tend to forget that Baldwin made Acrosonic uprights too!

Regarding the quality, the lady who's trying to give it away says that her tuner told her that this one is a better quality piano than their other piano, but the other is in better condition--they're moving and want to give this one away. Tried to sell it. No takers. "Offered" it to the landord who says he'll charge her $300 for disposal if she leaves it.

I've already got cabin fever due to Covid-19, and school's out now, so I have even less to do. So I need a project!

Call me crazy...

• I've got a 5x8 trailer reserved for tomorrow at Uhaul.
• Once I get the trailer, I need to pick up some boards at Lowes to use with these because the boards are too long to fit into my Jeep. (their saw is "broken" and they are actually pretty low on 2x12s because of Covid-19)
• Then swing back by my house to mount the ramp top kit.
• Then head Sunbelt Tool Rentals to pick up a Piano Dolly.
• Then farther off to Maryland to see the piano.
• If I like it...
  • The husband is going to help me get it into the trailer.
  • A neighbor will help me get it into my house.
  • 2 steps at their end. 3 steps at mine.
• It's in the metro area, but we're both on extreme opposite sides, so I'm figuring between 3 and 4 hours road time. I'm doing all the above on the assumption that I'll bring it home, so I don't have to make the trip twice.

I was going to cut a 12' board into two 6' sections, but I'm wondering about just getting two 8' boards instead, to skip the cutting and lessen the angle a little bit more. 8' is the shortest 2x12.


Question: does anyone know how much two eight foot 2x12s will flex under the weight of a console?