1905 Valley Gem "Cabinet Grand" Upright Piano

VALLEY GEM: Ripley, Ohio 1879.  Known as Ohio Valley Piano Co. as early as 1869; discontinued in 1925.  Name was used by Baldwin Piano & Organ Co.  Baldwin made pianos that are distinguished for the beauty of their case designs.  Special attention was given to this important feature of artistic piano making that even the regular models of this line are noteworthy for their simplicity and grace.  The piano is well known for its tonal quality including a robust, resonant bass, rich and warm tenor and a treble with a singing tone, bell-like in its clarity.  Many of these instruments were built for use in concert halls, elite hotels, and fine restaurants where their volume and powerful presence was needed.

Unique and distinctive features of construction are usually found pianos of this size.  The most important of those special features is the design of the ‘’over- stringing’’ construction.  Before 1890 most upright pianos were “straight strung’’, that is the strings were straight up and down, afterwards the strings were over lapping; this gives this upright longer strings with the tone of a grand piano and makes it especially well adapted for concert use.  “Cabinet Grand” is a term usually referring to certain large upright pianos over 50" tall.  Due to their towering height, these instruments usually had string lengths and musical capabilities equal and often superior to actual grand pianos, thus being labeled “Cabinet Grand” by their manufacturers.  A 52" upright provides as much total soundboard area as 7' grand piano.  Its #1 bass string's length nearly matches that of a 6'3" grand.  In other words, you get grand piano performance quality in a vertical instrument.