Baldwin Piano Masterpiece
A historic concert grand that made Baldwin legendary
American craftsmanship at its finest
An exceptional example of American craftsmanship at the turn of the 20th century, this Cincinnati-made masterpiece was produced by the Baldwin Piano Company in 1900 to compete in the piano makers' competition at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis (1904). The unique Louis XVI design features ormolu and detailed marquetry, all crafted by European immigrant artisans employed by Baldwin in the late 1890s.
This nine foot concert grand earned the highest honors at the Exposition, and those awards became a cornerstone of Baldwin's marketing, appearing on every Baldwin grand piano produced for the next 120 years in the form of decals, medallions, and plate castings.
The restoration process
The restoration of this historical masterpiece took place over a five-year period under the direction of Frank Seta (Seta Music, Cincinnati, Ohio). Frank retired from Baldwin as Vice President of the Piano Division after 23 years with the company and has owned and operated Seta Music since 2002.
Every effort was made to painstakingly restore the instrument, both cosmetically and acoustically—from replacing veneer to fabricating case parts. In addition, the piano received a new custom-made soundboard, new bridges, ribs, pinblock, strings, dampers, and new Renner hammers and action. The result is a complete performance restoration.
Frank Seta with the historic Baldwin concert grand in his Cincinnati workshop