The nameplate of this piano reads J.A. Knam / Bürger in Wien. Joseph Anton Knam appears to have been active as a piano maker in Vienna between 1810 and 1830.

The provenance of this instrument is not fully known, but it is possible that it was in the possession of German settlers in Pennsylvania in the early 19^th century. It has been traced to an auction catalogue in Pennsylvania, noted there as having been a display piece of the Germantown Museum.

This unrestored, Viennese action, wooden-frame piano has a six-octave compass FF–f´´´´, the keyboard featuring bone naturals and ebony-slipped accidentals. Somewhat unusually, the bass strings are at the back of the case. The case is veneered in walnut. The lyre has three wooden pedals operating moderator, bassoon, and damper lift.

The Knam piano was donated to the School of Music by Dr Andrew Nolan in December 2009.