Do you love bringing back to life pianos that haven't been used for about 40 to 50 years.

Dan
Piano Tinkerer

Only if it is well built one that someone originally took some pride in making. Everybody complains about the junk the chinese pianos are but I run across just as many old US ones that were garbage when they were made too.

Not always no. If they aren't worth if, have lost tonal characteristics from lack of tuning or care then I refuse the work and recommend replacement.

If it is a piano that has wonderful potential, and the customer is willing to spend what it takes, then, yes.

Unfortunately, most of the time, if it hasn't been tuned for 50 years, there are so many other problems that it makes the piano hardly worth fixing.

Usually no. As has been stated, many of the American junkers when they were new, were not good quality. So it's best to leave them. Walk away.

It would be an interesting discussion though, to talk about some of the fine quality old pianos that were made in America. One of my personal favorites is Charles M. Stieff, a name that many no longer remember.

I've seen some nice Shillers lately. I've noticed that the nicer the filigree painted on the plate, the nicer the piano.

"Smokey the Bear" would not be happy!

Hey Dan,

I have done a lot of old stuff, not many of the old American models, mostly the Canadian stuff.

I have found, generally speaking, if the instrument has good tone with all of the old parts, and the framework has not been compromised by accident, misfortune, neglect, or age, then you don’t have to work too hard to make a good sounding instrument once the new parts are installed.

For sure there is a sense of pride and accomplishment to hear the instrument being played once again. After all, you are the one who remembers the condition it was found in.

Rescuing the old stuff from the landfill can be fun, but now after 36 yrs. I only do the brand names…. Top-of–the-line instruments of their day. When I first started though, 8 out of 10 you could rescue. Now it is only 2 of 10 if you are lucky. The rest have deteriorated to an unusable condition, or have out-priced the repairs.

Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com

“Everybody complains about the junk that Chinese pianos are but I run across just as many old US ones that were garbage when they were made too.”
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This comment can also be applied to the 60’s and 70’s Japanese instruments that flooded onto this continent, then the early Korean stuff from the 80’s and 90’s.

I just attended a short seminar here in Vancouver with Joe Swenson, accompanied by the regional rep for Hailun pianos Joe Bednar. Half a dozen or more technicians got a chance to have a look at Hailun instruments.

Maple planks and blocks for construction, wet sand cast plates, Abel hammers, a lot of European design features, they neither sound Asian nor German, they actually have Austrian tone, dark and colourful.

If you get the opportunity I suggest you have a glance because these instruments from China are here to stay. I really should have taken some photos when I was there...neglected to do so.

Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com

Here's some pictures of the new 7'2 grand designed by Stephen Paulello, quite the instrument really.

Some already called it the Fazioli killer...

http://www.pianoworld.com:80/Uploads/files/IMG_2345.jpg

http://www.pianoworld.com:80/Uploads/files/IMG_2347.jpg

http://www.pianoworld.com:80/Uploads/files/IMG_2348.jpg

http://www.pianoworld.com:80/Uploads/files/IMG_2352.jpg

Norbert

I have a Bush and Gerts upright from 1907. It is a matched walnut case. The back posts are 6 inches deep and spaced 8 inches apart. The sound board has a laminated bent cutoff bar that make the board more like a grand.
From some book, Dolge? I think Gerts was a proponent of the philosophy that a piano was to be built to last and be repaired. The opposite philosohy was held by Braid White who felt that when a piano was worn out you got rid of it because it was cheaper to factory-style build one than it was to rebuild a worn one

Diane! Did you let Jerry work on your piano?!?

Did someone forget to put a damp cloth on the hammers,and leave the iron on it too long?

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quote:
Diane! Did you let Jerry work on your piano?!?
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Yup, I'd say Diane allowed Jerry to tune it. I've heard Jerry is rather fast, so I assume all that pin to pin movement created enough friction to cause a spontaneous combustion!!!!

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quote:
Rescuing the old stuff from the landfill can be fun, but now after 36 yrs. I only do the brand names…. Top-of–the-line instruments of their day. When I first started though, 8 out of 10 you could rescue. Now it is only 2 of 10 if you are lucky. The rest have deteriorated to an unusable condition, or have out-priced the repairs.
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Good point Dan. Same here. When I started 20+ years ago, many of the old uprights were still in good enough shape to warrant repair or refurbishing. Now in so many instances I think we do people a favor by announcing "last rites," and warning them to beware anyone who suggests spending hard earned money on them.

Keith mentions Bush & Gerts. Those are certainly one of my favorites too. I have maybe a dozen or so old names that were indeed quality pianos in their day. I keep my eyes open for these.

Any one know "who" might be responsible for the destruction of a certain someones (Diane's) grand piano!!!!



Here's a description of a suspect that was last seen leaving the premises!

Just a simple tuning and that piano will sound great!

"PIANO" left for dead
Last year at an estate sale I picked up a 1912 Baldwin 5’ 6” grand that was going to the dump.
It was very dirty, extremely out of tune, and months had a feast on it.
After getting the action cleaned, replacing felts, whippens, hammers, and bringing the piano up to tune it’s actually has a nice tone.
Out of the fifteen pianos I've picked up, I feel that three are worth any time or effort.
I cut up nine of them "Good Riddens"
At least I got $300 for the cast iron plates

Dan
Piano Tinkerer

Baby Grand Stieff Ron this looks interesting. There are usually upright Stieffs listed three- four times a year. Stieff upright

No John, Jerry's not responsible for that one, but Jerry's responsible for this one!

I knew Jerry looked good but dang! And I guess he puts Jerry Lee Lewis to shame! Great Balls of Fire!

i take off for Detroit for a couple of days only to arrive back to a real broiling hot piano burning fish fry on the forum.

Hehe, I snuck in when Diane wasn't looking! See what I do for entertainment???

Well??? Wouldn't you start a fire for that babe too?? Nooo, not Diane! The last one. The Devil make me do it and I'd do it again too!

So you prefer brunette's to blondes do you Jerry?

Well the only thing she has that I don't, is a 'burning piano'!

Pick your technician carefully! They can bring your piano back from the dead, or take it there!

Ummm, maybe I better plead the 5th and have a few more on this one!