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I just wonder if the legs are original? I have some very good photos of a 1856 Collard and Collard I have tuned but I can't see the link to paste a photo into this message? Can someone help me please.
Thanks
Robin

I agree that none of these pianos are likely to be from 1832 or thereabouts. I particularly doubt any of them are from the time before Clementi retired from the business, which was in 1831. The plates all look cast, which would not be until much later.

It would be interesting to see the actions. If they are Erard actions, they could not be from that era.

...update:

I got my adapter, but its far too loose to use. I'd be better off with hammer as-is. I'm going to take some measurements and machine a new tip for my hammer tomorrow.

With regard to dates of manufacture: someone mentioned over-strung. My piano (pictured above) is over-strung, and after some internet research/wikipeding it its apparent that my piano is 1860s+, despite the 1832 serial number.

For cast frames: I read that they were patented in the US in 1827 - how long did it take for the technology to propagate to other manufacturers? Was the industry using wrought iron prior to cast iron, or wood?

I'll take some photos of the action this weekend.

If it is overstrung, it probably dates from no earlier than the late 1870s. It would have to be after Steinway's patents ran out.

Before cast frames, they were made up of bar and plate stock, originally of wood, later of iron. They would have been bolted together.

Have you tried using a T-bar on your adapter? The looseness won't matter so much if you can keep the tip vertical and steady.

This is one of BDB's postings on the subject that I have shamelessly stolen and transmuted to these pages:

It is easy. Get your picture file ready, sized appropriately. Go here, and follow the instructions. When it is uploaded, you will get an email with the address. Choose the full reply form, and choose the fourth button from the left. Copy the address, and the picture will show up.

Thanks Dan,
I go and set that up ;-) I took a quite a few photos of this piano and for it's age it is in good condition.
Robin

Here is the photo of the 1856 Collard and Collard. I took some of the action as well but will see how this photo turns out.
robin

I see the piano came through OK so here is the side view of the Action. The piano is in a very old house in South Australia which is now a tourist museum. My point was about the legs is that most pianos I see of that age have legs as per the photo. I tuned it one semitone flat and it had oblong tuning pins ;-(
robin
http://www.pianoworld.com/Uploads/files/DSC04118.JPG

That has a composite plate and English (non-repetition) action, so the date looks correct.

I can rotate the adapter a full 45deg about the pin. I think I'll damage the pins if I try to use it. I've got sockets that fit better.

I can have the legs from an 1821 upright Collard & Collard #320 that look the same as the ones that Robin has on the one in Australia. The legs on the grand here and the one in Ireland are also virtually the same design.

Also the same action components, with the jack and jack tower attached to the key. So did the upright. The upright had a partial plate of steel in the lower structure below the pin block.

There are some photos of the same action found in a 1877 Collard & Collard in this thread from another forum.

Piano Forum UK

Here is a photo of the frame,strings and the oblong pins. It shows it only has two strings in the trebland and from memory the pin torque was OK. If you look at around C6 area there is a damper sitting up. Not quite sure how I fixed it but I think from memory I did something to stop that ;-)
Robin

Wow! What an elegant, beautiful design. Straight strung, long backscale, agraffes throughout. It must have sounded amazing when new. I imagine it still sounds beautiful. Please have someone machine a proper tip.
Tim