Piano Brands Of The World:
STORY & CLARK *
Company Website: QRSMusic.com
Owner: QRS Music Technologies, Inc.
Country of Origin: Grand Rapids, USA
Year Established: 1901
Related Brands: Wm. Knabe (Baltimore / Academy), Pramberger, Kingsburg, Heintzman, Young Chang, Weber
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
American Hampton L. Story began building pianos in 1857, and by 1884 had formed Story & Clark with fellow piano builder Melville Clarke. After close to 100 years of piano production out of Grand Rapid, Michigan, Story & Clark relocated to the state of Pennsylvania in the early ’90s, and were shortly thereafter purchased by QRS Music Technologies; a long-standing piano rolls supplier, who manufacture electronic piano self-playing systems. Melville Clark is generally credited with creating the first player piano, so the relationship is fitting.
Current Story & Clark pianos are offered in two levels of quality, the lower-priced Heritage Series and the more expensive Signature Series. Pianos are manufactured by several Asian manufacturers (undisclosed), built to Story & Clarke specifications. The Heritage Series offers one upright piano, the 46” H7. Heritage Series grand pianos are offered in five sizes; the 4’11” H50A, 5’3” H60A, 5’7” H70A, 6’1” H80, and the 6’10” H90.
The Signature Series also offers a single upright, the 48” S8. Grands too are offered in 5 sizes; the 4’11” S500, 5’4” S600, 5’9” S700, 6’2” S800, and the 7’ S900. Certain premium materials and components utilized in the Signature Series are sourced from European suppliers, including Roslau strings, Renner actions. Soundboards are sourced from Canada, and the rims in these pianos feature layers of maple and mahogany.
As of 2008, all Story & Clarke grand pianos and upright pianos are equipped with QRS’s proprietary PNOscan; an optical sensor strip that allows a pianist to record their performance. Bluetooth, as well as USB and MIDI ports, are equipped for the extraction of said data.
All grand pianos are also equipped with QRS’s PNOmation; an electronic player system that allows the piano to play by itself, controlled by external devices via BlueTooth. PNOmation also allows for silent practice through headphones.
STORY & CLARK MODELS & PRICE
| MODEL | SIZE | DESCRIPTION | MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| STORY & CLARK HERITAGE SERIES UPRIGHTS | |||
| H7 | 46″ | Academy Polished Ebony | 5395 |
| STORY & CLARK SIGNATURE SERIES UPRIGHTS | |||
| S8 | 48″ | Cosmopolitan Polished Ebony | 5395 |
| STORY & CLARK HERITAGE SERIES GRANDS | |||
| H50A | 4’11” | Prelude Polished Ebony/Mahogany | |
| H60 QA | 5′ | French Provincial Polished Ebony | |
| H60 QA | 5′ | French Provincial Satin Lacquer and Polished Mahogany | |
| H60A | 5’3″ | Academy Satin and Polished Ebony | |
| H60A | 5’3″ | Academy Polished Mahogany | |
| H60A | 5’3″ | Academy Polished White | |
| H70A | 5’7″ | Conservatory Polished Ebony | |
| H80 | 6’1″ | Professional Polished Ebony | |
| H90 | 6’10” | Semi-Concert Polished Ebony | |
| STORY & CLARK SIGNATURE SERIES GRANDS | |||
| H50A | 4’11” | Prelude Polished Ebony/Mahogany | 16695 |
| H60 QA | 5′ | French Provincial Polished Ebony | 17495 |
| H60 QA | 5′ | French Provincial Satin Lacquer and Polished Mahogany | 17595 |
| H60A | 5’3″ | Academy Satin and Polished Ebony | 17495 |
| H60A | 5’3″ | Academy Polished Mahogany | 17495 |
| H60A | 5’3″ | Academy Polished White | 17995 |
| H70A | 5’7″ | Conservatory Polished Ebony | 18895 |
| H80 | 6’1″ | Professional Polished Ebony | 21395 |
| H90 | 6’10” | Semi-Concert Polished Ebony | 28795 |
STORY & CLARK PIANO SERIAL NUMBERS
| DATE OF MANUFACTURE | SERIAL NUMBER |
|---|---|
| 1895 – 1910 | 1900 – 30700 |
| 1920 – 1940 | 78800 – 160000 |
| 1960 – 1980 | 307000 – 569807 |
| 1990 – 1995 | 700001 – 703128 |
| 1998 – Present | 707000+ |
*Disclaimer: Merriam Pianos offers the above information for the educational benefit of customers world-wide, and does not constitute an endorsement by – or imply representation of – the various manufacturers. For a full selection of the brands Merriam Pianos proudly represents, please click here.
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