My father born in 1906, being Jewish, but born in Germany; had a tough road to travel. He got a Doctorate(P.H.D.) in Science from the University of Munich, but preferred art, drama, and more inspirational fields. His father, Martin Rosenthal fled Germany in the late 1920, opening up an new hat factory in Amsterdam. Herbert, my father, in his 20's went with his parents. They left over 16 factories still operating throughout Germany, under the supervision of a non-jewish relative(through marriage), who years later sold out to Hitler. My Dad pursued acting and the entertainment industry. Wrote and was assistant director to a german movie introduced in 1929:(name translated to "Out of the Blue") One day he was returning to his apartment from a play he acted in and was warned not to go up to his apt. since the Gestopo was gathering Jews with Visa's from Germany and transporting them back. He slept at his office and the next morning packed his trunk with his manuscripts, songs and grabbed his acordion. He travelled to Haifa, (Palestine at that time). There he purchased a 30 room bed and breakfast and called it the RONA HOUSE, which was his pen name and acting name. He played his accodion with his music entertaining various guest, including Ali Kahn one of the richest men in the world at that time. Married a maid and my oldest brother was born(this was after our grandparents in 1939, had beened arrested and murdered in Auschwitz - not heeding Herberts pleading to come to Haifa). About 1948, Herbert wanted to come to America even though boatloads of Jewish imigrants were being turned away. His wife said "fine go with your son but I'm staying here with my parents". He sold the resort splitting it with her, but used all his funds to get to New York. About a $100,000 was in a joint bank-account(His and his father), but was gone and he had this 7, almost 8 year old boy to provide for. He turned to music and played his accordion on the streets of Manhatten, besides working as a waiter at the United Nations since he spoke 7-8 languages. He also wanted to become a Christian in this new country, so he turned to the "Yellow Pages" and found a church with Christ name in it and the story of a father and sons leaving Jerusalem coming to a new land felt it was meant for them. He then went westward and in this new state, he met and married a french lady who gave him in the following years 4 more children. <Now the piano story> Since music was so important to our father, he and our mother had us all start piano at 5 years old. He worked and went to U of U, to get another masters and doctorate since they didn't ackowledge his 1rst PHD from germany. This time he picked communications and art. After finally graduating, found out that U of U doesn't hire graduates from their own university. My mother also achieved a masters in teaching French. So when it was my turn to learn piano I wasn't as well disciplined as the other 3 and at age 8 performed at a church Christmas show, and after 3 mistakes and starting over, traumatically quit, later trying the violin, but teased about carring a machine gun. Later settled and learned and played the guitar. When we were grown up I recieved the practice Sohmer piano most of us learned on while the 3 siblings each purchased a grand piano and all were welcomed in their different church locations performing and assisting in choirs. I mastered that simple song I messed up at 8 years old, used my piano to tune my different guitars, was taught by an older brother the Charlie Brown theme but am no comparrison to them. Now early August, 2024 I had an oppurtunity to purchase an old upright piano. No name was on it, until I had bought it and opened it up to find a Behr bothers & co. Patented in in 1881, 1889 and 1890. I was so excited about it and how great condition the finish was on it, that in my research I found Brigham Larson video of restoring a piano just like mine, only mine lookis like his restored one not the original, though the top 5 keys don't work as in the video...but the base sound and the rest of the piano really project a tone that is unreal. Now I couldn't compare my piano with my siblings grand pianos. but ironcally I have one that's in a class by itself. My 2 sisters still have and play theirs but my brother had died 12 years ago returning from choir practice on his motorbike with no helmet and his kids didn't keep it. Then my oldest brother whose 82, didn't play, yet worked as a DJ with KALL radio till he was 19 and then after 2 years of service got in with KSL up to GM of the FM part of KSL and then for the last 45 years does Christian tours in the Holy Land and place of his birth. Basically he's the speaker for "Crossroads of the East" not West.
Since the piano was just purchased I haven't had time to get a realistic year of production but from the history of Behr Brothers and their story I'm supposing the late 1800's the pedal in the middle is different from the one Brigham had on the video and the pro.# I think is lower.. It was purchased by the Salt Lake City school district and last tuned in 2011...the finish is fantastic, the 5 high notes are silent and about 2-3 low base notes are whacked, the rest sound OK but not perfect, could be tuned definetly but the tone is all there. Looking forward to hosting future family Christmas get togethers and also have a unique piano...I wil let the 2 sisters do the performing, my wife of 20 years here in America from the Philippines self taught herself the piano so she'll play too. Maybe this is our 2nd hundred years on this piano and will be my heirloom to my family. Hey, I'll be 70 years in just 7 months.
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YEAR 1800-1900
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MAKE Behr. Brothers & Co.
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SERIAL NUMBER 14463
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FINISH Walnut
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CATEGORY CONTESTANT
