Bansall and Sons v Bremar upright

[PianoLove]

Mark, I'm planning to move to a flat (currently live in a room in a shared house and my Edwardian Piano is in shared lounge) in the summer and would have the room for another piano. Now as you know my Edwardian Piano needs restoration (which I will have to save up for, but really want to do) and I will not get rid of Piano, but he may not be able to be tuned to concert pitch so it would be nice for me to have a piano that is. Would it be ok to PM you once I have a flat to move to please? One of your pianos would go to a very good home in me- I am not well off (part time job ending soon, so back to the job centre sadly...), would take care of the piano and be most grateful. Many thanks.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Hi PianoLove,
I am very happy to provide you with a free piano in good working order that is overstrung and underdamped. However, I won't have time to handle it via PM or email. I set aside some time each day to do a quick check of this forum because I very much enjoy the community feel of this place. So I make time for that and I enjoy it. However, I don't have any time available for walking through the process of choosing, photographing and helping arrange delivery of a free piano via PM or email. When it comes to one-to-one digital communication I have to devote my efforts to replying to any emails that might come in from paying customers.

I don't know if that explanation makes sense but I enjoy the community feel of posting in a public forum. Doing it all behind closed doors is not fun in the same way.

I will always have something knocking about though. Perhaps if I chose I what I felt to be the best option and then listed in the UK Piano "pianos for sale" section and posted a link here that might be acceptable to Barrie. But even then I would only be willing to take questions via the forum, not email or PM.

Fingers crossed we can sort something out for you.
I hope the forum admin(s) realise that this is not a profitable venture. It's just putting the forum to good use to help people with zero budget get a piano that I don't mind letting go for free which is still a half-decent piano. If I were a proper capitalist I'd sell these for £150 - £500 but I'm not a pure capitalist so I'm happy to give things away from time to time.

[PianoLove]

Hi PianoLove,
I am very happy to provide you with a free piano in good working order that is overstrung and underdamped. However, I won't have time to handle it via PM or email. I set aside some time each day to do a quick check of this forum because I very much enjoy the community feel of this place. So I make time for that and I enjoy it. However, I don't have any time available for walking through the process of choosing, photographing and helping arrange delivery of a free piano via PM or email. When it comes to one-to-one digital communication I have to devote my efforts to replying to any emails that might come in from paying customers.

I don't know if that explanation makes sense but I enjoy the community feel of posting in a public forum. Doing it all behind closed doors is not fun in the same way.

Thank you very much Mark. I know what you mean about the community feel of this place- this forum is the only piano one I am on. The advice on here is good for beginner piano owners and players like myself. I have also made a good friend in Dave Brum.I understand the time thing. If it helps- I could get the train to Oldham to see the pianos when I have the flat. Finding the flat may take some time as I will need a ground floor flat. I have moved my Piano from the home I got him in in a van to my old place, and then a removal van again to this place- he is very heavy! But the removal man was charmed by him and helped my burly guys get him into the house. The removal firm had said they didn't move pianos but said they would take him in the van with my stuff if I got burly guys to move him into the van. Yet the removal guy liked Piano so much he helped!
If the firm Lou used would take the piano from you to me that would be good.I'm presuming that would cost about £100?

I will always have something knocking about though. Perhaps if I chose I what I felt to be the best option and then listed in the UK Piano "pianos for sale" section and posted a link here that might be acceptable to Barrie. But even then I would only be willing to take questions via the forum, not email or PM.

Fingers crossed we can sort something out for you.

Yes, you could do that and I could come to Oldham to try them out if you like? I am not too fussy Mark- a good working upright that has a deep/rich- ish sound if you know what I mean. After all, Piano, bless him, has a few sticking keys (and 3 broken hammer shanks) and needs a little tune but he is still playable for a beginner.I have learnt to play a bit on him already so a piano with nothing wrong should be easier.
I will never get rid of Piano though- I love his character and look and will get him restored when the cash flow improves! I think he would be great when restored as his tone is very nice- everyone remarks upon it who plays him. He cannot help being over damped and over strung.

I hope the forum admin(s) realise that this is not a profitable venture. It's just putting the forum to good use to help people with zero budget get a piano that I don't mind letting go for free which is still a half-decent piano. If I were a proper capitalist I'd sell these for £150 - £500 but I'm not a pure capitalist so I'm happy to give things away from time to time.

It's very kind of you Mark. Zero budget is me at the moment sadly.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

That all sounds fine with me. Yes you could pop and have a nosey when I have a few in to choose from.
I'm not sure how much delivery would be sorry. I don't know how much APK charged Lou.

Let me know when you are ready to move on this and we'll see what we can sort out.
Thanks
Mark

[PianoLove]

That all sounds fine with me. Yes you could pop and have a nosey when I have a few in to choose from.
I'm not sure how much delivery would be sorry. I don't know how much APK charged Lou.

Let me know when you are ready to move on this and we'll see what we can sort out.
Thanks
Mark

Great, thank you Mark- as soon as I have found the flat I'll let you know! I plan to start looking for one at the end of this month. I will also ask my current land lady if she has any ground floor flats coming vacant.I used to like living on the top floor til I got Piano.

I have filled in the contact form of APK to see if they would pick up the piano from you and bring it to my end and asked for an estimate. I told them this would be in the summer.

[dave brum]

I'm happy to repeat this process dozens of times for private individuals seeking a free working piano.

Are you any good at consoling piano-sceptic spouses also, Mark???

[piano heads]

I'm happy to repeat this process dozens of times for private individuals seeking a free working piano.

Are you any good at consoling piano-sceptic spouses also, Mark???

Rename the website THE U.K.PIANO GREAT GIVE-AWAY PAGE.

[PianoLove]

At least Mark's pianos are going to good homes by people who will appreciate them and be very grateful.

[NewAge]

That's no fun lol. I want to do it for friendly forum members, not your average bargain hunter who expects the world for nothing and then shows no gratitude. I'll maybe just do the same approach as in this topic by waiting until someone comes along saying "should I accept this free piano" and then tell us that it is an 1880 straight-strung overdamper from the local farmer's barn. I could parp up at that point and offer them something better for free

Then do it as a PM like the other retailers do Offering a piano for fee is just the same as saying I can sell that make £100.00 cheaper than that shop. That is one way of getting you banned. Barrie,

Barrie's right on the Mark here. (Pun intended).
This original Bansall and Sons v Bremar thread has been thoroughly highjacked!

[NewAge]

At least Mark's pianos are going to good homes by people who will appreciate them and be very grateful.

PianoLove,
As are free pianos HERE:http://www.piano-tuners.org/used-pianos-for-sale/index.php on the same website, albeit submitted in the accepted way.
I for one am delighted to see that some pianos are donated - when done correctly.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Point taken. No more free pianos.
I'll give them to my Dad who will sell them to raise money for his charity www.familyaiddirect.com

Fun whilst it lasted.
I'll tow the party line now

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Oops charity website expired. Will have to sell that free piano and put money in the meter.

[PianoLove]

Never mind, thanks anyway Mark- it's the thought that counts.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Sorry about that.
As we saw the other day you can get something good from ebay for £50.
Keep your eye on ebay and post links to cheap Kemble, Eavestaff and Bentley auctions in your area.
Hopefully we can help you make a good choice.

[mdw]

You can also get a load of c**p on ebay. When a customer come to me wanting to get rid of a grotty piano I advise them we charge £150 to collect and destroy. Most tell me they will put them on ebay. These are pianos with major problems I have advised be broken up. Most of these are 50-120 years old.!!!

A piano is either good and has a value or isnt good and should be broken up. The reason most people get a free piano is cost. I am happy to destroy pianos we have taken away on delivery of a new instrument. The cost to us us is half a days labour plus £250+vat for a skip for 5 pianos. Quite frankly I would rather the £300 in my pocket and not have the agro but I dont want to see the same grotty pianos passed around the area putting players off. THERES NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

In general, that's true of ebay junk pianos BUT with the right people helping to make a safe choice and with an inspection carried out prior to purchase, it can be a good way of getting a decent piano for very cheap.

[dave brum]

Never mind, thanks anyway Mark- it's the thought that counts.

Hear here. How about free piano LESSONS?? Like luncheon vouchers sort of thing.

[PianoLove]

Sorry about that.
As we saw the other day you can get something good from ebay for £50.
Keep your eye on ebay and post links to cheap Kemble, Eavestaff and Bentley auctions in your area.
Hopefully we can help you make a good choice.

I will have my Edwardian piano restored when I have the money like I had planned.I hope you find good homes for the pianos.
I will email the piano moving company and apologise for asking them to collect the piano from you (I had told them in about 2-3 months time)- instead I can give them the job of collecting my Edwardian piano for restoration when I have the money. I shall have to start saving in earnest and live even more frugally!

[lou-lou33]

Hi Mark,

The piano was delivered this morning, and I have attached a photo to show you how it looks in situ (I couldn't resist the candelabrum!)

Thanks so much for doing this, it is very kind and generous of you, and you have made me (and three little ones) very happy. It's been a pleasure, and I look forward to hopefully meeting face to face one day!

All the very best.

Lou.

[PianoLove]

Oh Lou your piano looks so lovely the way you have placed it with the attractive chair, photos, picture above it and the gorgeous candleabrum! I want a candleabrum for my Piano now! I have two candle holders sitting on my Piano's top -one left, one right- with some pictures of Chopin and Liszt in between!
A piano really makes a room doesn't it?

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Oh how can this possibly be against forum policy
What a beautiful happy ending. The piano looks brilliant and will serve you all very well.

How can this be banned?

[PianoLove]

Oh how can this possibly be against forum policy
What a beautiful happy ending. The piano looks brilliant and will serve you all very well.

How can this be banned?

I know... The piano looks so happy in its new home and its new human friends love it!
Next time you see a poster who is worthy of your offer Mark just PM them and then ask them to contact you via your website.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Next time you see a poster who is worthy of your offer Mark just PM them and then ask them to contact you via your website.

I'm not prepared to do it via PM or email. I want to keep it in a forum setting because that way it is loads of fun, other folk can chip in and it helps build community spirit within the piano playing/trading/moving/tuning community.

I have just registered a new domain, www.freepianos.co.uk. See new forum topic

[dave brum]

Hi Mark,

The piano was delivered this morning, and I have attached a photo to show you how it looks in situ (I couldn't resist the candelabrum!)

Thanks so much for doing this, it is very kind and generous of you, and you have made me (and three little ones) very happy. It's been a pleasure, and I look forward to hopefully meeting face to face one day!

All the very best.

Lou.

Never mind the candelabrum, what makes a piano a home piano is a little furry...


MEOW MEOW


sitting atop it. My little Sarah Jane loves my piano!!

[dave brum]

Reminds me of Liberace on Celebrity Squares or Show of the Week back in the days when we only had three channels on the telly. Or Albert Semprini, even a certain French pixie-faced blond bobcut pianoman which I have been threatened with Piano Page expulsion dare I mention his name e'er again...

[PianoLove]

Whoever that bloke is he cannot be more annoying than the Manilow...

[piano heads]

I'm not prepared to do it via PM or email. I want to keep it in a forum setting because that way it is loads of fun, other folk can chip in and it helps build community spirit within the piano playing/trading/moving/tuning community.

Are you removed from reality the piano business is a business to make profits,tuners/retailers/players/movers etc do not live on bread alone,they ply their skills for money not brownie points from the Lord above,or the scroungers who try this forum for free pianos/free advice not due to not been able to afford a decent instrument,down to not wanting to spend a penny.

[piano heads]

I'm not prepared to do it via PM or email. I want to keep it in a forum setting because that way it is loads of fun, other folk can chip in and it helps build community spirit within the piano playing/trading/moving/tuning community.

Are you removed from reality the piano business is a business to make profits,tuners/retailers/players/movers etc do not live on bread alone,they ply their skills for money not brownie points from the Lord above,or the scroungers who try this forum for free pianos/free advice not due to not been able to afford a decent instrument,down to not wanting to spend a penny.

[PianoLove]

I hope you are not alluding to me being a "scrounger" piano heads- for your information my job is part time- 25 hours at minimum wage-I am a graduate and have taken a job far below my capabilities and qualifications so as to NOT be a "scrounger" (as you so elegantly put it) on benefits. You also know nothing of Lou's circumstances either.

In addition, I will be saving to get my Edwardian Piano restored as soon as I'm able to- I am applying for lots of full time better paid jobs.
Some people do not have a large income, so it is not won't pay for pianos- they just do not have the income to be able to afford to buy a piano.

My Edwardian Piano was given to me from freecyle last year. Mark was offering me a more up to date piano which I was considering because my older piano needs some work done and it would be nice to have another piano whilst the older one goes in for restoration- the offer was there, I could have homed the piano in the near future, cannot see any problem.Mark also sells pianos- he makes his living, he is also generous - sometimes giving pianos away that he does not wish to sell.He also stated himself he doesn't give them to people who are ungrateful and are scroungers.

One shouldn't make assumptions about others- I am putting a lot of effort into finding a better paid job- many applications, doing voluntary work etc. You are indeed fortunate to have been born with a silver spoon in that you have never had to struggle to earn a decent income so that you may see others who are poor as scroungers.

[piano heads]

I hope you are not alluding to me being a "scrounger" piano heads- for your information my job is part time- 25 hours at minimum wage-I am a graduate and have taken a job far below my capabilities and qualifications so as to NOT be a "scrounger" (as you so elegantly put it) on benefits. You also know nothing of Lou's circumstances either.

In addition, I will be saving to get my Edwardian Piano restored as soon as I'm able to- I am applying for lots of full time better paid jobs.
Some people do not have a large income, so it is not won't pay for pianos- they just do not have the income to be able to afford to buy a piano.

My Edwardian Piano was given to me from freecyle last year. Mark was offering me a more up to date piano which I was considering because my older piano needs some work done and it would be nice to have another piano whilst the older one goes in for restoration- the offer was there, I could have homed the piano in the near future, cannot see any problem.Mark also sells pianos- he makes his living, he is also generous - sometimes giving pianos away that he does not wish to sell.He also stated himself he doesn't give them to people who are ungrateful and are scroungers.

One shouldn't make assumptions about others- I am putting a lot of effort into finding a better paid job- many applications, doing voluntary work etc. You are indeed fortunate to have been born with a silver spoon in that you have never had to struggle to earn a decent income so that you may see others who are poor as scroungers.

Again the comments are not personal and are aimed at people who will try anything so as not to be out of pocket when piano buying even though they can well afford to do so.Regards my own situation for 32 years worked 24/7 and took a small local piano business to being one of the U.K leading piano retailers till retiring last year.Free pianos Free lunch dont think so just hard graft got me where i am no silver spoons here.

[dave brum]

I know Piano Love personally and I have to say she most certainly ISN'T a scrounger (Footnote: I didn't think 'McCarthyist' witch hunts led by the rightwing press for 'scroungers in the bed' extended to simple little piano forums??)

[PianoLove]

I am at a loss as to why you made the scrounger comment as no scroungers have been on here...
I'm sure Mark can decide who is trying to pull a fast one or not- he has his own domain for this now, so that's great. But anyway better a scrounger have a free piano than it end up in landfill..
But anyway. Let's leave it at that.Enjoy your retirement!

[dave brum]

...and he's now doing it AWAY from the UK Piano Page as soon as he gets his site up and running. I'm so glad that there still IS a modicum of GOODWILL to one's fellow man in Great British Society and the desire to HELP ordinary people such as Lou with their desires to have a piano and enjoy it has not been eclipsed by profit and capitalism.


Was also going to mention about pianos going into landfill, or even worse into the crusher - but Kari's already beaten me to it!!

[piano heads]

You can also get a load of c**p on ebay. When a customer come to me wanting to get rid of a grotty piano I advise them we charge £150 to collect and destroy. Most tell me they will put them on ebay. These are pianos with major problems I have advised be broken up. Most of these are 50-120 years old.!!!

A piano is either good and has a value or isnt good and should be broken up. The reason most people get a free piano is cost. I am happy to destroy pianos we have taken away on delivery of a new instrument. The cost to us us is half a days labour plus £250+vat for a skip for 5 pianos. Quite frankly I would rather the £300 in my pocket and not have the agro but I dont want to see the same grotty pianos passed around the area putting players off. THERES NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.

Could not agree more.