Torp & Unger Square Piano: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This square piano was made by Torp & Unger in New York, New York around 1839. Otto Torp was involved in several different piano manufacturing firms in New York. It is believed that his partnership with Ferdinand C. Unger lasted until 1941 when Torp was last listed in a New York directory with a home address, suggesting that he had retired from business. This piano has a compass of FF-f4, the first 3 notes are single-strung and the rest are double-strung with the tuning pins at rear, 2 pedals: (missing) moderator and dampers, and an iron hitch-pin plate. This is the only known piano made by Torp & Unger.

Materials, dates and provenance

• date made: 1838 - 1840
• maker: Torp & Unger
• Object Name: piano
• Physical Description: wood (string plate; hinges material)
• Physical Description: cast iron (string plate material)
• Physical Description: steel (strings material)
• Physical Description: flannel (damper lever pads material)
• Physical Description: buckskin leather (tags between heads and strings material)
• Measurements: overall: 35 1/4 in x 71 7/8 in x 30 1/2 in; 89.535 cm x 182.5625 cm x 77.47 cm
• Measurements: body: 11 1/8 in x 71 in x 29 7/8 in; 28.2575 cm x 180.34 cm x 75.8825 cm
• Place Made: United States: New York, New York City
• ID Number: MI.277897
• accession number: 55527
• catalog number: 277897
• Credit Line: Gift of Rev. Augustus Smith
• Data Source: National Museum of American History

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.