2007 Mason & Hamlin Tour - Pictures and Comments

We just got home from the tour at M&H in Haverhill and the after-party in Lowell. I won't give the detailed report right now, but I will say that it was absolutely a fun and informative day. Many thanks to Frank, Kirk and Gary Burgett, Cecil Ramirez and our intrepid tour guide, Bruce Clark for a wonderful tour. Even tho we were on the tour last year, there is so much information to hear and things to see that it was not at all boring. I know I learned things I had either missed or forgetten from last year.

The new M&H B is a lovely piano! Sounds so much bigger than it's actual size. They did an outstanding job with it.

The party at Larry Buck's after was lots of fun! Food, a little vino, great conversation, and some piano playing, too!!

Yes, there are pictures- lots of pictures. I'll get some posted soon, and I am sure the others will, too.

Oh- USAPianoTrucker- Cecil DID bring us all to the loading dock and showed us the door! LOL We have pictures...

On to the Frederick Piano Collection tomorrow!

Same here.

Thank you to Frank, Kirk and Gary Burgett, Cecil Ramirez, and to the rest of the M&H staff. Bruce Clark, our tour leader, did a superb job. The chicken dinner that we shared for lunch was wonderful.

It was also great to meet other forum members in person.

Here's our group pic:


I will try to upload some more later.

Nice looking group! Can't wait to see more pictures. How nice that you all had a party at Larry Buck's afterward.

Here's a shot of the different M&H models ready to be played on:

Additional pics:

Here are some more (in no particular order):

It was a perfect day!

Great group of people (nice to meet new members and see some familiar faces).

Bruce and the others from Mason & Hamlin did a great job with the tour, as always.

It's obvious a lot of pride goes into making their pianos, and that includes everyone involved in the process.

Our thanks to the employees on the shop floors for putting up with us tramping through their areas. They all welcomed us with smiles, and it was evident they were happy to show off their skills :-)

And thank you to Larry Buck for hosting the after tour party at his shop, and to TerryTunes, Steve, and Larry for organizing the party.

I'm going to post a bunch of pictures, but probably won't caption most of them until later.

I got home after midnight, and up at 6:00, still waiting for my brain to kick in (of course, of been waiting for that for years).


















More Picts to follow....

More picts, ad promised...

















More to come...

Still going...







Cool old building Mason & Hamlin's factory is housed in. According to Kirk Burgett (owner) it was built circa 1890






USATrucker, this one is for you...




Last batch coming up ...

Last Batch...

A wonderful duet by Duncan and Quinn Howes..













Sorry I didn't take any pictures at the party.
I was tired by then, and ready to just sip some wine, eat some of the tasty food, and hang out with the piano people.

I know some people took party pictures, as well as lots of other tour pictures, hoping they will post them soon.

To the Mason Hamlin Family...

You are appreciated.

We felt welcomed and privileged to tour your factory and hear a topnotch presentation by Bruce Clark on the artistry in the making of your pianos. I am overwhelmed by the care, precision, details, artisans, and quality control that goes into making the MH pianos.

Being that this was the second time that I have taken the tour, I was able to comprehend so much more. And being a proud new owner, I could so 'relate' to my piano! I listened and watched thinking "Wow...this is what went into making my piano; This is the artisan who made my piano and I am watching him/her do what made my piano the wonderful instrument that I play."

Thank you to all.

I have enjoyed viewing my pics, and viewing the other pics posted. Warm fuzzy memories.

Larry Buck, Terrytunes and all...what a wonderful party! A chance to relive the day and just socialize!

I've got some pics uploaded to photobucket and like Frank, will try to add some commentary later, as I am just on my lunch break. Oh, BTW, the last pic that Reliv4all posted is of his son, Mathew, who I think is 13/14, who blew us away with his classical abilities!
--------------------


MH has several original frame bending units and is currently replacing them with new units for several reasons. One being safety. The CC (concert grand)


MH makes an inner rim and outer rim, both of maple, laminated. Not only does the thickness support the massive piano, it contributes to the tone and stability of the soundboard. (remember what i say here is from memory of what i believe i heard - you can check with mh for correctness)
I believe the rim stays in the frame overnight. This is an inner rim being bent (like my AA)!



This rim framer might be 100 yrs old



MH is known for their Tension Resonator. A design established for one purpose, but now believed to help the stabilizing of the rim, soundboard curve etc. Here it is in the process of being installaed.



Pinblock holes being drilled.



Bruce Clark points out aliquot section. Which is tuned at the factory. Yes, we saw it being tuned in a small sectioned off room, but I couldn't get close enough take a pic. Anyone out there with a pic of that?



Owner Kirk Burgett accompanied us through the complete tour. Proudly.



More later...back to work!

MH actions are made on site. It gives them complete control for their specifics, They also do many tests for quality control.

Parts are purchased.

A whole floor is dedicated to the MH action. I was most fascinated with this floor. I also noted and pics were taken of 'neat (yet factory) layouts'. I loved rows and stacks of prepped, ready to install action parts.





STRING ROUNDS of several sizes



Tireless animated tester rocks back and forth







Inside out and upside down damper installation?



Series of hammers being prepped. Filed down to a specific layer of felt




More coming. LL

I left you with several hammers being sanded/filed down. My question was, "When does he know it is time to stop filing?"

Answer...He knows by experience.

There are 'layers' of felt. Each layer could be/can be stripped off. He stops when a layer is solid.





"Hmmmm...where did you get that hammer, Bruce, that you so easily cut apart for demonstration?" asks I.

"Oh, this is from the discard box", says he.

"Hmmmm," says I. "Cathy Harl has made them into Door Key Chains. Do you have any that we could use?"

A box was forthcoming and devoured by the attendees. Just look at what IrishMak came up with for their use!!!



Did you notice the 'blues'? LOL!

Oh, Frank, you will have to edit. I had nothing to do with it. Terry, Steve and Larry are the team that keep this New England group together I must say. Terry deserves something special as she spent most of the day setting up and cooked all the food!

Not only that but she has us on a broadcast email list to keep us all up to date on the latest gatherings and news in PW.

Thanks to all for having us hanger's on who didn't attend the tour. It was so nice to meet "new" PianoWorld folks and one new piano talent who is all of 14 years old!!!

And the Frederick Museum tour today was just as fascintating! I have a bunch of pics from there, as well. Alas, posting of all pictures from me will have to wait till next week. We are off tomorrow to Somers, CT for the first chili cookoff of the season. Pictures are downloaded from the camera, but not cleaned up, resized and so on. Will get 'em up asap next week.

I'm really glad to see everyone had a good time. You were in good hands up there so I don't think it could have been anything but.

And some Party Picts are here...

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/22/129.html

(Thanks Terry)

double post: oops!

Great pictures ; just so sorry I had to bail at the last minute.
Somebody, PLEASE: caption one of the group shots with (screen) names!

Thanks,

Another installment:

Wonderful pics! Thank you for posting!

GRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEAT photos! thanks!

Why thank you, Lilylady. Matthew's 13 but he wouldn't mind being presumed as someone older (mature). When he gets to my/our age he will understand why we prefer to be presumed just the opposite.

At my age, I just prefer to be presumed to still be alive :-)

Legs anyone?



Packed and ready to go...



Logo is even on the boxes!



Historian Paul on the right. He has been with MH since the 40s and has many a story to share.



I know that there were lots more camera's being used...hope that others get some time this weekend to share. (hint, hint!!!)

Oh, and just to make you all jealous, we came home with the famous COFFEE MUGS. Now to use it? or keep it for display?

LL

Teresa and I had a terific time at M&H.I was expecting to see less than we were treated to and was very impressed.I am Glad that the M&H of today is made the same as in the past.I left having a renewed apriciation for the Company and It's employees.The quality of the workmanship that the employees produce is truly amaising.
The party after was great to .Wish we could have stayed longer.To everone who we met there Thankyou.Larry your shop is Impressive to say the least.Next time I will bring my favorite dish to make . It's not lasagna.It will be a suprise.I can tell you it takes two hrs to prepare and it is french.The food that was there was excelent.
My pictures came out very good ,but they would be a repeat of what was already posted.There is nothing like being there though.I recomend highly going on the tour.I am now putting M&H #1 on my list for new piano's.

Then we all got the chance to play which ever we chose. They had the complete lineup.

It was fun seeing John Citron turn around in a circle trying to figure out which piano he was going to play!



Laurente (I hope I have that right) showed his classical prowess playing Chopin on the CC. Tell us what you thought Laurent



We then asked for Liszt which he played on the BB



'Proud Mom' Howe watching her offspring playing the CC (someone above posted the pic of them)



Monster M&H choice piano. Beautiful veneer on this one!



Rock and Roll Star Frank Baxter (PW owner)



Cont...

The last of my pics:

And pianist extraordinaire, Cecil Ramirez, MH national sales mgr, played his beautiful rendition of 'Emily'. Who, after hearing that, could resist the "B"? ;-)



I did not get to meet everyone, but here are a few names for the 'who is who' association!
Left and front - Cecil Ramirez, MH; Frank Baxter, PW; Kirk Burgett MH; Woodfab and friend; Gary Burgett, MH; Reliv4all in middle with son Matthew behind; Monster M&H and wife; Bruce Clark, MH engineer and tour guide/teacher; Paul Monachino, consultant and MH historian;
Middle and back - MH plant mgr? (name?); Jim Frazee, tech; Irishmak and hubby behind; ?;?; Lilylady in middle; Tonyf and wife behind me; Howe children with Mom to right; ?; tallest is fourthgenerationpianorestoration and wife in front of; ?; ?. Please fill in the names of others for us!



That's all, folks!

As a long-time reader, a short-time member and a never-before-poster of PW I wish to thank the charming Burgett brothers of Mason & Hamlin for so generously opening their factory and making us feel so welcome. Bruce Clark possesses the knowledge, patience and endurance of a god, and Cecil Ramirez was the most gracious and delightful host. Also an enormous thank you to Frank B. here at PW for pulling it all together.

The entire day was other-worldly. The intimacy of a private tour of a first class museum, the engineering perfection of a sail on a 12 meter, and the exhilaration of a flight over the Grand Canyon all rolled into one. Every individual from M&H, from the owners to the artisans, was the personification of immense pride in hard work and the joyous celebration of excellence. Witnessing first hand the ‘best’ in any worldly endeavor is a pleasure. Being allowed into this rarified air was a privilege indeed. Thank you and Bravo!

By request, I will try to post an MP3 of Cecil Ramirez playing 'Emily' on the new Mason B. After my miserable failure to record my Schumann pieces, I thought half way through his beautiful rendition... aha, maybe I can capture some of it. Of course in the huge factory hall, and with factory noise in the background, I am not sure that it shows his playing, nor the B to their best. My computer speakers are shot as well. So, hopefully, you will at least hear the quality of the B and Cecil's talent.

This is my first attempt to do Box.net for sharing. If it doesn't work, please help me out.

MH B with Cecil Ramirez playing Emily

FABULOUS!!!

Really!

Mike

Roberta... thank you!

Cecil.... another beautiful sounding performance to add to the collection!! :3hearts:

Great pics,

CLICK HERE: (Video deleted)

reliv4all... great post! Have you uploaded a performance of Matthew??


LL... sounded wonderful!

The audio on the video was cutting out for a second when I played back Matthew's piece (same for a few of the pianists), plus he made a few mistakes. I am not sure if the audio problem had to do with the DV tape or during the video transfer.

When viewing lilylady's video you can click the profile concertpianist7 . You can see/hear the same piece Matthew played at the factory tour. This was at a recital at his prep school two months ago.

Deb and I want to thank EVERYONE at Mason & Hamlin;

• Kirk and Gary Burgett for making everyone feel welcomed and part of the "family"

• Cecil Ramirez for his BEAUTIFUL performance and the kind responses to everyone’s playing -especially mine -

• Bruce Clark for his continued enthusiasm and expertise about pianos and his ability to transpose it into layman’s terms

• Paul Monachino for sharing his life experiences with M&H...what a gem

• Jamie(Plnt Mngr) for taking the time to talk along with going the extra mile to help me on my quest...

Both Deb and I enjoyed our visit immensely ... Deb now has a whole new opinion for Mason & Hamlins ... thanks again. [ Deb really liked the AA I played, now all I need to do is figure some way to fit it into the house...mmmmm ]

• Frank B/aka PW, thanks so much for putting the time and effort into this event, it's such a GREAT TIME, renewing aqauntices and making new ones, hereing members perform, ...it's a MUST DO folks...MAKE THE TIME. (3 thumbs up)

Wow - thanks to everyone for taking the time to post all the pics. I feel like I've been on tour myself. Very jealous I wasn't there!! I will definitely need to schedule a tour at some point to see where my BB was born!

Just found this video of the factory tour from the TV show How It's Made.

Apologies if this was already posted somewhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFejZgOHDA

Doh, Frank has it posted on the site here:
http://www.pianoworld.com/how-a-piano-is-made.html

I should have known.

the picures are just wow...