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My 1948 Conover Cable console is missing its fallboard knobs. The previous owner's children pulled them off years ago and they're MIA.

Can someone please recommend an online resource for vintage brass piano hardware? I wouldn't know how to determine which ones were on this piano, so I'd like to have some nice tarnished options to choose from that were reclaimed from other pianos.

I've tried eBay and I've tried my hand at Google searches, but I'm only seeing more contemporary options.

Thank you.

This is pretty much all I'm seeing:

http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Knobs-S...YE9W/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

They're 1/2" wide and tall and were made for pianos. I can age solid brass, but the style seems too modern. I'm unfamiliar with pianos of any age and wouldn't know what might have been on a 1940s piano.

I would cast a wider net by searching for brass drawer knobs without the word "piano" in it.

Google image search - Brass Drawer Knobs

Maybe there'll be something you see there that is less modern looking.

What size are piano knobs usually?

I'm not finding images of pianos and their knobs.

(Why does the word knob always make me laugh?)

Ahh, I just stepped away from writing this and tried a different search and found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxLclWF1eo

Music desk or piano desk seems to be the more common search term for finding knobs.

It could have been worse - I could have suggested you visit a good old-fashioned knobs & knockers shop.

+1

Check out garage sales, architectural salvage places, etc. Habitat for Humanity has a chain of stores where they sell off donated stuff and salvaged stuff. I've got a box of old drawer and cabinet knobs somewhere, but most IIRC are larger than what you want.

Ha, that would have been awesome. Next time, let her rip. :o))

I'm finding that most brass knobs (man, I'm so immature!) are at least 1" wide and tall, which is too big, so my options are limited.

And if I buy new, most brass seems to be lacquered. I'd have to sand through it to age the brass. Not a big deal, but I'd prefer no finish.

I'd love it if someone reading this who owns an upright, regardless of the age, would please measure their knobs (oh, boy) so I have a point of reference.

Try Stevespianoservice.com. knob and rubber nail graphic ordering page. They also have a lot of other hardware and pedal parts. I intend to use them for some worn and replacement knobs on my 1904 Mason Hamlin upright. I have ordered from them and everything has been decent quality. Ace hardware has some things but like you said problem is sizes and finish ....Talk to your tech. too.
Beth Harris

I've had a few older uprights (okay, maybe more than a few) and I know exactly what you are talking about. A few of those pianos would have one brass knob missing from the fall-board, or both missing. Finding a close match was a challenge.

Depending on how serious you are about restoring, or just fixing-up, you can buy a pair of small brass cabinet door or drawer knobs that would suffice (as has been mentioned already). I've done that before...

You are right, those old brass knobs are hard to come by, regardless of size.

Rick

You might look here .

Forgive my ignorance here, but I am unfamiliar with this. Why does a fallboard have brass knobs? Where are they located?

I would not worry about finding something "period" or original or specific to piano, just attractive and size appropriate. We often salvage casters and some hardware pieces from old uprights that are no longer serviceable. We sift through boxes of parts when we need something. We're probably not the only piano repair shop to do so....

Some of them had brass knobs, some wood. They are there so you can grab the fallboard and open or close it.

At this point in my search, I agree. Something attractive, period not really necessary.

Do have any old brass knobs for sale in your restoration shop?

MooseNotes, I scrambled around my piano shop and found two old brass knobs that I'll give you if you want them. They are probably older than your Conover Cable piano.

Not sure the internal threads are correct, but maybe you can find the right metal screw that will fit.

Send me a PM with an address to mail them to and they are yours, shipping included.

Rick

P.S. the date on the digital pics is not correct; I took the pics this evening, and didn't feel like setting the date on my digital camera.

They're adorable. I love your old knobs, Rick!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

(And I swear I'm not trying to be weird with that comment.)

PM is on its way as soon as I send this puppy. :o))

tend to rush, great resource. I'm bookmarking it for future reference for some house projects we need to tackle. Thanks.

I do not think those are fallboard knobs. They look like they are for action bolts. Fallboard knobs would take screws that are about 1/8" diameter, standard hardware size. Action bolt threads are much thicker.