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Pianomate

You are quite right Bill, BS1452 was a British Standard specification for the manufacture of cast iron. You will see it stamped on lots of castings if you look carefully.

"Daniel" sounds like a stencilled brand.

Pianomate

Fortunately, computers will play any DVD regardless of regional format.

-That's only true if you have had them chipped or hacked to enable them to do so!

Pianomate

Your trouble is that I doubt many cabinet makers you find will have any experience of building piano casework. Also you could expect to pay $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. In any way, it will look a lot better just refinished. The design with the sloping panels doesn't look as bad as some styles such as the the ...

Pianomate

Rebuilding a case is a MAJOR task and requires great skill. If you want to do this, I would only recommend leaving it to a cabinet maker. Sorry to say, but it would definitely not be a job for an amateur. However, first get the insides all working before you even look at the casework. All but the ea...

Pianomate

Do not allow any WD40 etc to get onto the soundboard or it will affect the wood - place a sheet of card between the strings and the soundboard before you spray. Before you try and assess anything to do with the strings and soundboard etc, give everything a REALLY good clean so you can see better. If...

Pianomate

Looks interesting. Is the DVD region free or do I need a player which can play region 1 discs?

Pianomate

I thought that too initially about the trusses, but they are in-keeping in style with the art deco panels so may be original, with the handwritten number for something else such as the dealer's own stock no. As Bill suggests, and the panels and trusses may have been subesquently "updated" ...

Pianomate

Any metal parts you have cleaned the rust off, I would use very fine grade emery cloth (600) to make it shiny then very lightly wipe linseed oil over it to seal it and stop the bare metal rusting again.

Pianomate

There's a family in the neighbouring village which has one that looks almost the same. The lady is a piano teacher and gives lessons on it. Is it overstrung and underdamped? Theirs is very nice and great to play but they bought it from a tech who had fully overhauled it. If it is the same, then I wo...

Pianomate

It's a standard 1950's styled case in light coloured pre catalysed (cellulose) lacquer.

Doesn't look too bad inside.

Pianomate

When you say "new coat of paint" I assume the piano is black. Don't use paint but get someone to spray it with black pre catalysed furniture lacquer (a car body repairer with a spray booth will be able to do this for you if you can't find a furniture maker). If it's brown varnish, then the...

Pianomate

Treat with woodworm killer without delay! Not sure if it's a woodworm grub or not but if it's there, then woodworm could be there too.

Pianomate

Finally managed to get it indoors and into the upstairs study (my den). Surprisingly it is more or less fully functional. A couple of the hammers have come detached from the rail (I believe they are attached by leather hinges), and one string is broken but I'm going to have a go at splicing it tomor...

Pianomate

If you're planning on doing much yourself, this book is invaluable:

http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Servicing-T ... 1879511037

Pianomate

The local techs restore used uprights and grands to a VERY high standard. I have seen their work and it is very professional and they only use the best quality components, and the cases are completely stripped and finished to an excellent polyester or shiny French Polished finish. They take breat tr...

Pianomate

As already stated, the market in your country may be completely different to here. However I seriously doubt that even with you it would fetch anywhere near that much. Look at this enthusiasts page - the prices are posted on it. http://www.friendsofsquarepianos.co.uk/ Even fully restored, it would n...

Pianomate

I've not come across any Chinese ones near to me, but plenty of digitals and keyboards. However we are "out in the sticks" and there are few music shops, most of which concentrate on strings, brass and band instruments, with the occasional piano. The trouble here is that people set a budge...

Pianomate

The problem with the piano market is that times are hard and there are a lot of very affordable and available second hand pianos about, which means that people aren't buying new unless they've a lot of cash. Also, if looked after, pianos have a long lifetime, not like cars. True, they may not sound ...

Pianomate

I wonder if the guy talks like the way he writes?

Pianomate

If Kemble are a stand-alone company as part of a group and they are wound up completely, if the company is liquidated and ceases to exist, all guarantees are void. In the same way 150,000 MG Rover owners lost their car warranty cover when the company went into adminstration in 2005. However if the c...

Pianomate

Just when you thought they couldn't get any more weird: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A-Very-Grand-Piano-Rosewood-Not-Clactons-Steinway_W0QQitemZ220396898814QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL?hash=item220396898814&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318 They are li...

Pianomate

If youre seriously thinking of letting them into your house, you must be crazy! I'm afraid if they treat your piano like that, then they'll treat everyting like that - your whole house is going to get trashed - furniture damaged, things spilt on floors, damage to the carpets, paintwork and fittings ...

Pianomate

Sorry, I should have been a little clearer - by "small amount" I mean something which a tech can do in no more than a couple of hours. They fetch more than this here - people with large period properties tend to display them in hallways for effect and are not particularly interested in whe...

Pianomate

Looking at the style of the legs, I would guess late 1860s, ealy 1870s. Value depends on the condition and the market. Fully restored, they can fetch a coule of thousand £, but unrestored, value is comensurate with work (expensive) requried, usually meaning up to a couple of hundred at the most. You...

Pianomate

Sounds rather extreme. If you have to go to the extent of locking them out, they're never going to respect the piano, or anything else for that matter. They can't be locked out of everything they shouldn't be at for the rest of their lives. Far better telling them to keep off it ind if they persist,...

Pianomate

Just see what's advertised locally - papers / Ebay etc. Some of the German pianos of the early 20th Century are solid and built like battleships and good bets and in the price range (with the exception of Bechsteins etc). Makers like Ibach, Knauss, Hoffmann, Reid Sohn, Colona, Kohl, etc etc, you kno...

Pianomate

Will look later. I need some replacement strings. Where can I get suitable strings from as I expect most of the suppliers usual ones will be high tensile type?

Pianomate

I meant the film he mentioned.

Pianomate

Would be interesting to see. Any chance you can post it on YouTube?

Pianomate

Hi Guys. Finally found a square piano for my restoration project. Case has been knocked about a bit but the internals don't need too much work inside to get it playing (to begin with at least). On first appearances, I would guess it dates from the 1830s or 1840s but I'm sure more will be revealed as...

Pianomate

I would be tempted to stick it back with Gripfix or similar. Bind it up with string until the adhesive has set.

Pianomate

Replace ALL the hammers or the newer notes will have a different tone.

If the cover on the hammer rail is wood, moisten it to soften in, attach it with animal glue (pearl glue) and use a steam iron to iron it on to finish off.

Pianomate

Woodworm - the very mention if it strikes fear into householders and antiques enthusiasts alike. Wipe over the areas with the holes with a wood stain or dye or even a cloth soaked in diluted gravy browning to darken the holes. New holes will then be obvious and you can check for activity. As a rule,...

Pianomate

If I ever discover holes, even old ones, I blitz the furniture with woodworm killer (The industrial sort not available to the general public, not the DIY version). Furniture beetle likes damp environments and hates central heating. A recognised way to get rid of them for fine, valuable antiques is t...

Pianomate

Sounds like furnture beetle (woodworm). Over here a piano would be scrapped if badly infested.

Pianomate

It is quite common to find evidence of mice in pianos here too. You find all sorts of things in them. One piano I helped move had the pianist's stash of whisky behind the bottom panel. A tech I know once found a small amount of cannabis which had been hidden under the keys by a previous owner. Do yo...

Pianomate

Problems with splittin and warping are usually connected with cycling of environments - i.e. extremes or sudden changes of humidity to dryness and back again, centrally heated houses, proximity to radiators, stoves, heaters and windows, damp stone floors etc. There are many much older pianos in the ...

Pianomate

You need to allow a few tuning sessions to enable it to settle down if it has been out of tune for a while. Also, is it in a steady environment?

Pianomate

I suggest you look for a tech in your local telephone directory or business directory. A tech would need to inspect it to give you a valuation. You would need to specify to him whether your valuation is for insurance or for selling. Any competent tech would be able to tune it.

Pianomate

A lucky find. It looks like the sustain pedal top is missing. You can purchase replacements through this site, or one of the members will probably have some spares. Send an email to Ibach http://www.ibach.de . They may send you some info on it. (there is a charge of 40 Euros). They also have some hi...

Pianomate

Look after it and enjoy it - they seldom make much money at the moment. Keep it well maintained.

I do suspect that a few years from now the interest in these early instruments will gradually increase as they become more and more scarce, and then everyone who has bought them cheaply will be quids in.

Pianomate

Ask your tech. You will probably get the best price sold privately, but probably not worth a huge amount, especially if the case looks particularly 1950s old fashioned.

Pianomate

A lot depends on whether there are stairs to negotiate, whether it is necessary to tip the piano on end to get through doorways etc. You almost certainly need a piano trolley, and your wagon needs a tail lift (You'd risk serious injury lifting it into a normal van). Leave it to someone experienced. ...

Pianomate

I presume you are meaning the self adhesive veneer?

Wouldn't touch it. No self adhesive glue has any longevity. Not that hard to attach traditional veneer if prepared and done properly.

Pianomate

I expect your music stores are only keen on tuning pianos they sell. Check your business directory listings for independent piano tuners and technicians.

Pianomate

Wouldn't touch any of that Chinese stuff ever!

Pianomate

Your best advice is to ask your technician for advice. It's was probably a decent piano when new if it is overstrung and underdamped. Depends on how much general wear and tear there is. They may be able to improve the hammer felts and repair any damage, or you could get them all done. By the sounds ...

Pianomate

Do all the keys move freely?

Take them off, give them a good clean and clean underneath (but be careful not to suck up any rail punchings with the vac!) Are the pins on which they sit rusty or shiny?

Pianomate

Thanks, I will get some pics.

It's a typical German instrument of the period. Huge, Heavy, German engineering, substantial frame with a deep bass.

Pianomate

If you're going to tackle it, consider it a labour of love only! It would be an uphill struggle and you would never add sufficient value to recoup your time and expense. However for an beginner and an amateur, you're not in danger of spoiling a good piano by tinkering! However I do appreciate that w...

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