Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum My "new" Bluthner is ready for collection!

This is my Bluthner style 8. The restoration is complete, and I've been sent pictures by the workshop. I'm going down tomorrow to play it for the first time. The piano was owned by Birmingham Conservatoire who had left it to fall to bits in a practice room. It was neglected for decades and they were going to throw it out, and it just so happens when the restoration firm went to view a Steinway for rebuilding, they spotted this piano and decided to rescue it, and now it's mine! I don't have the delivery date fixed yet but it should be with me in the next month or so.

This is what was done to it:

Acoustic:
New soundboard, New pinblock, frame regilded, restrung, refelted.

Action
New roller action and keyboard installed, back action reconditioned, new damper felts installed

Casework:
New top lid made (the original was missing), New candleboards made for the music desk. Re-finished in satin black. I didn't want polyester and couldn't afford french polish.

It Is Spectacular !!!

I have no doubt you will fall in love and play the devil out of it.

Congratulations !!!

(Who did that beautiful rebuild?)

OMG

If it sounds half as good as it looks, you have really got something there!

Enjoy it!

Wow! Great looking instrument, both inside and out! One to die for. Love to hear what it sounds like.

Rich

Wow, simply stunning... Congratulations. Please post a recording when you can.

Were you tempted to get a sostenuto fitted, or don't you ever use one?

I can't wait to get my hands on it and get it home. The work was done by Paul and Colin Leverett in the UK. They do a lot of rebuilding work for various firms, are Bluthner experts since they both trained with the firm when Bluthner still had workshops here.

They also rebuilt Steinway, Yamaha and Grotrian concert grands for venues in Portugal and rebuilt three pianos fir Artur Pizarro. Colin Rebuilt a Bluthner for Michal Hambourg who was the daughter of Mark Hambourg, and they did a Bechstein grand for Fou T'song so their work is highly recommended.

Is that advertising? Edit the post if I've gone too far there, I don't work for them.

She's beautiful, Joe! Congratulations!

You might have told us about this piano before, but I can't find the thread. What year is she? How long is she? Does it have the "Bluthner Patent Action", a modern Renner wooden action, or a WNG composite action?

By the way, what is a "candleboard"? And what is "French Polish"? I have a vague idea of what these terms are, but better safe than sorry.

Now all we need is to get a photo of you dressed up as Rachmaninov, seated in front of this beauty.

P.S. - You've just GOTTA post an audio clip of you playing her. It's abou time we get to hear what the "Bluthner Golden Tone" actually sounds like.

I want to marry your piano.

I almost fainted when I saw pictures of the plate.

WOW!! When I find a piano this beautiful I might be able to convince my wife to buy a grand
Seriously, it looks fantastic.
Whenever you take delivery don't forget to post a recording!

A "candleboard" is often called the music desk/rack. The flat areas on either side of the "music stand" are for the placement of candlesticks or candelabra.

"French Polish" is a specific finishing technique more common in Europe than in this part of the world. Google is your best bet if you want to learn more about it.

Wow! Looks to be about the same era as Debussy's piano. Enjoy!

Hi Almaviva, I opted to have the patent action switched to a modern roller action, standard Wood parts. I opted for the switch because I perform a lot so I wanted a standard type action. My other Bluthner style 8 will be rebuilt with the original patent action and keys because frankly I love the patent action but because it is shallower and lighter than a standard action and has no aftertouch (and is faster when correctly regulated) it can give you a false sense of security in a way

French polishing us basically building up the colours in layers and then hand rubbing. It's very time consuming and expensive and my primary concern in the instrument. It looks great with the finish it has though

You are kidding right???
LOL..

No I have another that I've had for 11 years. It's a 1912 model. The one above is 1894

Joe

I am available for adoption.

I don't eat much.

That is a breathtakingly beautiful piano.

Larry.

Wow! My jaw just hit the floor.

Well, time to gouge my eyes out so I don't feel disappointed when I look at other pianos...

Stunning plate!!! I have a similar project on the go right now. Not with a plate as yours.
1929 7'8" As of right now it has plain legs, lyre & music desk but our client is having us install similar legs as yours, same music desk and lyre. Parts coming from Europe.

Enjoy your fantasic piano!!!!