Chicago, Ill, USA
Cable Piano Company of Chicago

Wood, ivory, ebony, metal
ca. 1897
Height: 92.5 inches – Length: 66 inches – Depth: 29 inches
Strings – Zithers – Keyboards

The Cable Piano Company of Chicago made some of the finest antique pianos and were one of the largest and most successful piano manufacturers in American history.  It was established in 1880 by H.D. Cable, who had previously worked for Western (later Chicago) Cottage Organ Company.  A decade later, 1890, Cable consolidated with the Conover Brothers.  The Conover brothers attempted to revive the Pompadour and Giraffe Piano based mainly on the French styles of the 18^th century.  They built a handful of prototypes which they called ‘Symphonic’ models; possibly only four others still exist.  The Giraffe piano was one that took a grand piano and put it up in a vertical position, similar to an upright piano, only they did this many decades before the upright piano came to be.  This Cable Victorian style Conover Giraffe Piano is called the “Symphonic” model.  It has Empire Revival style carvings and sits on 4 carved legs with a pedal lyre, like a grand piano.  The original matching bench has the same carved legs as the piano.

Resource:  Cable Piano Company – Antique Piano Shop