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I am your host, Natalie, and this is an account of my personal piano restoration project. If you are looking for specific information, tips, or techniques regarding piano restoration or refinishing, you have come to the wrong place. However, if you are interested in reading about my progress, miracles, or mishaps, I invite you to read on. Notice the newest post will always be below this message and following it are the previous four. If you have missed part of the journey, or are just joining, please, refer to the blog archive located near the bottom of this page.

Tuesday, August 4

A Brief (Rough) History

Around 1900, Melville Clark of Story and Clark Piano and Organ Company decided to turn his focus toward player pianos and ended his partnership with Hampton Story. He founded the Melville Clark Piano Company in DeKalb, Illinois, which produced a variety of piano players, player pianos, and pianos. In 1919, a year after Clark's death, and in due time since 1919 marked the height of the piano's popularity in the US, the Melville Clark Piano Company was bought by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, which produced Apollo pianos until 1939.

According to the Bluebook of Pianos, this particular Apollo piano was built between 1916-1918, one of the last Apollo pianos manufactured by the Meville Clark Piano Company. (One of the vital numbers in the serial code is worn away but reads either 28392 or 38392.)

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Wisconsin, United States
I am the DIY-Amateur Style gal behind Restoring the Apollo. I have no experience in actual restoration or refinishing, just common sense and a knack for odd repair jobs. Restoring the Apollo is my first project of this nature, with possibly more to follow.