You asked for it, you got it[/b]

A while ago there was a thread asking if M&H would set up a tour for the Piano World Piano Forums members.

Cecil Ramirez (National Sales Manager for M&H) recently sent me an email...

"I've spoken with Kirk and Gary Burgett, the owners of Mason & Hamlin, about having a group tour of the factory specifically for PianoWorld readers and they would be pleased to welcome such a group."

Cecil didn't want to post anything on the Forums out of concern it might look like advertising or a plug for M&H.
I assured him our group would be pleased to take a private tour of the factory:-)

They would like to get an estimate of how many people would be interested in the tour[/b].

Details[/b]
Tentative Date:[/b] Monday, May 10 (not confirmed yet)
Duration:[/b] Likely a couple of hours, possibly longer.
Pictures:[/b] Yes, you can take pictures (as long as you don't interfere with the work going on).

If You Think You Are Interested in Attending[/b]
Reply to this thread, or contact me directly events@pianoworld.com

FYI, the factory is in Haverhill, MA (pronounced Heyvrill). About 45 minutes north of Boston.

Mason & Hamlin Piano Company
35 Duncan St. Haverhill, MA 01830
www.masonhamlin.com

Additional details will be coming.
Right now we would just like to get an idea of how many people would be interested in the tour.

Please Stay On Topic With This Thread![/b]

Location[/b]

Count me in! Mondays are best but if I have enough notice, I can change my work schedule.

Can I invite a piano teacher? She has a golden era A and we have gone on the tour before, but....After all they had a new machine tool, still in it wrappings when we went a few years ago. ..

I'd be willing to offer my home for those needing some sort of stop off. You could meet here before or after for coffee, use the facilities :rolleyes: and rest up before heading out... Maybe even play a little piano! Haverhill, is only about 30 minutes from me...

Hi BeeLady,

Yes, bring the teacher.
Is she a forums member? If not, sign her up:-)

Frank,

I can shoot for a day off. Monday would be better for me, also.

Chris

Thans Frank. Yes, I'm going to try and make this one too. Probably wont bring anyone although one never knows.

I'd be interested, & that's far enough in advance I could work it into the schedule.

Count me in Frank - just one

Very likely.
I'd be a party of one.

Wow, Kenny! You'll probably get the "farthest traveled" award.

penny

Cool.
Hope it's a Rosewood AA.

Frank,
Count me in also.

Regards,
Chris

YES! Count me in. Can I bring a friend?

You know when I was a child the grade school classes would take field trips to the "Tip Top" bakery in WRJ, Vt. to see how they made bread, and before leaving the bakery each kid got a loaf of bread to take home...

...
...

I'd like to come as well. Tuesday would be best, but Monday is OK.

There's still a chance I might come, even though I did have my heart set on that travel award.

For me the 3rd or 4th (Mon, Tues) of May would be best though I could also make it the 10 or 11th.

My sister lives in Pittsfield, Mass and I was thinking about visiting her on the way, but she'll be out of town on the 7,8,9,and 10th.

Bob

I'd love to attend the tour Sounds wonderful and my husband will be coming with me. Thanks

You lucky dawgs, you. If I came - which I can't - - I'd bring the party hats. (Hi Cecil )

Jodi! Stay on topic!

Jodi

I'm not 100% sure I can go, but I am definitely interested, and it's probably 80% that I can. Mondays would be much better, schedule-wise.

Please count me in for the tour. Either day would be fine. This is a really wonderful opportunity. Thanks for making the arrangements!

I am interested but cannot promise yet. I won't have a car available. I would have to take a train to, I assume, Boston; not sure trains go to Haverhlll.

Two important questions:

Is there public transportation from, say, Boston to Haverhill?

If not, could I get a ride up there on the tour day with a PW member in Boston?

Thanks.

Actually, Joe, I'll probably be taking the train from the opposite direction and thus know that there is a Haverill stop. My train is the Amtrak Downeaster which you can pick up in NOrth Station in Boston, but I suspect that there are others that run from Boston to Haverill - probably even a commuter rail run (Purple line). You can check the MBTA information online and also Amtrak.

i'd like to join the tour, but right now is still too early for me to commit.

perhaps the new york contingent could travel to haverhill together? i would love to join that group, if it works out for me to be back east at that time.

Joe, the commuter rail runs from Boston to Haverhill, see it here .

Note since most commuters go into town in the mornings, not all trains go out that far and you may have to change trains in Reading.

I am impressed with the distances from which many are coming!!

Kenny,

One word. Pictures. Lot's of em!

JohnC, if kenny doesn't take em I will with my new toy, a digital camera the guys gave me for xmas. But while I can take them, I can't host them. Anyone ready with a site? Frank maybe?

Not a problem, we can host them for you.

RealPlayer,

I already checked with Amtrak because that would have to be my mode of transportation also. They have trains to Haverhill via Boston. $141 round trip from NYC. The problem is the schedules. I think the train leaves NYC around 7:something am and gets in Boston 3 or so hours later. Then there is a connection to another train to Haverhill which gets there around 1'ish I think. I'm thinking of traveling up on Sunday and spending the night in a hotel so I can be fresh and ready for the tour. There is a train returning to NYC from Haverhill later in the day.

Let me get the specifics again and I'll post them.

I really hope I can come, but it is too early for me to know my work schedule. Hey, gotta see where my baby was born! I'll try and work around the dates that the main group needs. Since my sister lives in MA, it will be an added bonus to visit with her.

Sounds like a good group is able to commit now

... Here are the specifics I'm considering via Amtrak:

NYP New York Penn Sta
BBB Boston Back Bay
BNS Boston North Station

Sunday: NY to Haverhill (tentatively 5/10?):
NYP to BBB 7:05am - 11:05am
BBB to BNS 11:29am - 11:37am
BNS to Haverhill 12:00pm - 12:53pm

Monday: Haverhill to NY
Haverhill to BNS 3:51pm - 4:45pm
BNS to BBB 4:55pm to 5:04pm
BBB to NYP 5:40pm to 9:50pm

OR

Haverhill to BNS 5:51pm - 6:45pm
BNS to BBB 6:59pm to 7:08pm
BBB to NYP 10:05pm to 2:11am

Just to let you know, I spoke with Cecil today
and 05/10 looks like the tentative date.
I will let you know for sure once we have confirmation.

Other details to follow...

BeeLady,

Thank you.

Take lot's of 'em. Whatever Frank can't host I might be able to host a few.

Oh, but one more assignment for Kenny.

Kenny, if they are giving away samples of those cute little A's could you bring me back one? Please? You would be my friend for life!

Sorry John but all the free samples are AAs.
Still friends?
Besides you alredy have a "Killer B".

BTW, I'm probably gonna take a week off and "do" Boston and vicinity’ I’ve never been.
I'll start a thread in the coffee room for hotel, restaurant, and must-see suggestions.

Opps, sorry Frank, off topic.
"Smack!" "Whip" "Punch" “Slap”
Ouch.

Realplayer & Bernard,

I plan on driving up to Haverill from Western Connecticut. The Brewster North Station on Metro North is about 10 minutes from me. I could pick you up and we could leave from there. Let me know. My email is Chris(dot)Aher(at)mci(dot)com (replace the at & dot)

Without Boston's on again, off again, North-South rail link, you can see why getting to Haverhill is such a pain from anyplace south.

On my train home the other night I saw a sign on the platform saying Peter Pann bus lines is doing the NYC / Boston route for as little as $25.

I may also be able to help shuttle Boston-Haverhill. The tour might very well start in the morning. PM me, if interested.

Chris

Count me in too.

Rolland Rahr

I have a very strong interest. But at this time can only say it's about 50/50 that I will be able to make it.

Please count me in.

(I may bring a friend if we don't fill up all 25 spots by the week-end before the tour.)

For those travelling from NYC, there are a few Chinatown express bus lines going between NYC-Chinatown and Boston-Chinatown, $10 one way, hourly departure, no stop in between:

http://www.staticleap.com/chinatownbus/

Count 2 for me, Frank. I'll be bringing my son.

Wow sounds like it'll be a great trip!! I'll talk to my dad about it. I'm assuming I have school that Monday, but as a Mason & Hamlin owner in MA theres no way I can miss this... I'll post whether or not I'll be making it soon.

-Ari

Please add me to the list for the M&H tour. I'm thrilled to have this opportunity & the chance to meet a few members of this group.

Thanks Frank! I'll make sure the memory card is empty and the battery full!

I am finding that my minivan is filling up, I have become a party of 5 or 6!

Can I bring or provide anything we might need? Nametags perhaps?

Funny you should mention name tags.
I was thinking I'd like to have name tags that show everbody's: Forums Name, Real Name, State.

Exactly what I was thinking Frank. I had also thought about labels such as "BeeLady's Piano Teacher" or "TerryTunes' spouse"!

Don't forget the ones that read: "Tomk's girlfriend(s)"



topic, topic, topic

:p Jodi

oops. :rolleyes:

BeeLady, make sure you get lots of pictures of anyone wearing the above name tags!

Since attendance is limited to 25. . .
And since 17 are confirmed and 5 are maybes. . .
I hereby convert from a maybe to the 18th confirmed.

I'll be the one with the very zippy flattop.
Don't forget to add Miles Traveled to the nametags.
That means Joy, Rick, and Penny - you guys can't go. . .
I'd hate to lose out on that Rosewood AA.

See UPDATES...[/b]

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=22&t=000021

Frank,

I guess you should put me down as "confirmed," since we're getting down to the wire. May 10 looks good as of now.

All that might happen is a music gig might turn up for that day...in which case someone can go in my place. The nature of freelancing...but chances of that are unlikely.

Thanks.

That's 800 miles away from me. Grrrr....yet, people from Chicago and Minnesota are going. What to do, what to do?

Rich D. and I are considering flying up for the day but are unable to stay overnight on either 5/9 or 5/10. What time do the festivities begin on 5/10? In that regard, I see that there is a flight that gets into Manchester before 8 a.m.; if the tour did not begin until 9:30 or so, we likely could make it.

Jim

Frank, for the count, I'm confirming for just 1 person: me. I will not be bringing a guest.

Frank, As a fairly new member who recently acquired an M&H Model A, I'd be grateful if you'd add me to the list.

I think it would be a wonderful learning experience for anyone who can attend.

Regards, Bob Fogel

Put me on the "confirmed" list.

Frank,
Please confirm me, too. I'll fly directly into Boston on the 9th and spend the night in Haverhill. Then hope to maybe get a ride or travel with other forum members down to NYC after the tour.

Please confirm me as well. Thanks.

I've posted the list of confirmed attendees here..
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=22&t=000022#000000

Please check the list.

Frank,

If there really are 2 spots left, I would like to confirm for both of them. I'm not sure which thread to use to let you know.

Thanks,
Julie

Boo Hoo!! My name was not added to the confirmed list. I feel so..so.... rejected (and ejected)! Something tells me that I will survive. My hubby is laughing at me!! First I told him that there would not be room for him and now he is having the last laugh!!

Frank, please check for an email I just sent you for one more confirmation. I'll still make good on my previous offer to help out with rides, but hope that doesn't mean waiting outside .

Frank, Thanks for re-checking the thread and adding my name to the tour list.

Since I live locally and will be attending the tour solo I would be capable of assisting a few people if they require transportation. If I recall correctly, I thought "Beelady" had already filled her car so anyone seeking a ride from a train station, hotel or airport, I would be more than willing to assist.

Also, I would be willing to put together the name tags if you are looking for a volunteer.

Terrytunes, as the details have shaken out, I do have lots of room in my car to pick up anyone at the train station. I can fit 5 comfortably.

Have you an avatar that I can put on your nametag?

Hi Beelady, If you would like any assistance with the name tags I would be more than pleased to help.

As far as my avatar... give me a bit of time; it's in the "works".. thanks

This is a test......

One more test!!

Ahhhh!! Success at last. How do you like my new "avatar"?????

Frank,
Don't know if you have an official waiting listing if some folks can't make the tour. If you do, could you please include Jim L. and myself on the list. Thanks.

Rich. D.

Possible.

On the way to Germany [and its greatest 'secret' beer festival in Bavaria]...perhaps!!

Is this a fixed date... a week later possible???

Guess not....

norbert