Search found 3553 matches

by Barrie Heaton
01 Mar 2024, 19:59
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: New server
Replies: 1
Views: 75

New server

We have moved the site onto a new, faster server, but we've had some issues with one of our databases, so there was a few days' lead time before the main site was pulled across, and the DNS was updated, so you may see a gap in some of the posts you've put on here, this database was pulled over a few...
by Barrie Heaton
19 Feb 2024, 20:19
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Hammer not contacting string if adjacent note is pressed
Replies: 9
Views: 429

Re: Hammer not contacting string if adjacent note is pressed

The piano needs a good service and the hammers spacing.
by Barrie Heaton
10 Feb 2024, 00:15
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Kawai Belaire
Replies: 3
Views: 300

Re: Kawai Belaire

There was a thing in the '60s for making 4-5 octave Pianos. If I remember right, I think the French started the trend.

It's quite a handy piano for people with less space.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
08 Feb 2024, 17:09
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Kawai Belaire
Replies: 3
Views: 300

Re: Kawai Belaire

I have not come across one of those before did you take any photos?

I don't like tuning mini Pianos these days as I have to kneel down to them. I find if I sit to tune them, I get backache.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
03 Feb 2024, 08:56
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: What is the lettering made of?
Replies: 3
Views: 234

Re: What is the lettering made of?

Some companies in the US will make you a new decal from a photograph.

And this place in the UK
https://www.nottinghampianos.co.uk/prod ... al-sticker

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
01 Feb 2024, 19:13
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: What is the lettering made of?
Replies: 3
Views: 234

Re: What is the lettering made of?

It can be both; some makers use brass inserts, others use stencils, and some use both depending on the quality of the piano.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
21 Jan 2024, 21:50
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Help identifying a upright piano
Replies: 2
Views: 333

Re: Help identifying a upright piano

It looks like a stencil piano. Also, it looks like it has ivory keys. If it has, it is a criminal offence to sell a piano with ivory keys without registering it first. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/declare-ivory-you-intend-to-sell-or-hire-out Trade would ask you for money to take to weigh the piano st...
by Barrie Heaton
31 Dec 2023, 12:25
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Merry Christmas everyone
Replies: 8
Views: 1152

Re: Merry Christmas everyone

Broadwoods had a big battle with one of the Chinese companies about ten years ago over copies of the Broadwoods name. I remember when hunts Pianos got in trouble they had a model called Lutener but the L was very ornate and it looked like Bluthner, bluthners reported them to trading standards, and t...
by Barrie Heaton
29 Dec 2023, 10:03
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Kemble piano buying advice
Replies: 1
Views: 573

Re: Kemble piano buying advice

If It's been looked after, they are nice Pianos same play mechanism as the Yamaha U1.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
27 Dec 2023, 12:13
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Merry Christmas everyone
Replies: 8
Views: 1152

Re: Merry Christmas everyone

The Broadwood grand is probably a Chinese copy, I would give Alistair a ring or text him his number is on the Broadwoods website he doesn't do emails.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
26 Dec 2023, 16:24
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Merry Christmas everyone
Replies: 8
Views: 1152

Re: Merry Christmas everyone

It's nice to put a face to a post. Have a great New Year. Keep Marion happy; tune it twice a year.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
25 Dec 2023, 12:48
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Merry Christmas everyone
Replies: 8
Views: 1152

Merry Christmas everyone

I hope that you got the presents you deserve and you have a wonderful Christmas Day and Boxing Day all the best for 2024.




Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
23 Dec 2023, 14:35
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: CONVENTION 9 - 12 JUNE 2024 ALBRIGHTON HALL HOTEL SHREWSBURY
Replies: 0
Views: 1061

CONVENTION 9 - 12 JUNE 2024 ALBRIGHTON HALL HOTEL SHREWSBURY

ABPT - CONVENTION 9 - 12 JUNE 2024 ALBRIGHTON HALL HOTEL SHREWSBURY SY4 3AG It’s Time to Up-skill! Dear Tuners, The convention is here to help you Upskill. Accommodation is £164.00 per day, which includes your Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, and morning refreshments at 11 am. Double room occupancy will ...
by Barrie Heaton
16 Dec 2023, 10:49
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Barratt and Robinson Piano
Replies: 6
Views: 12968

Re: Barratt and Robinson Piano

no 69222. = late C1978

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
12 Dec 2023, 19:51
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Modern Zimmerman
Replies: 1
Views: 437

Re: Modern Zimmerman

The old Est German Zimmerman pianos are bloody awful. The new ones are very nice for the money. I have a few clients that have them that needed some prep work but after that very nice, and they are quite stable tuning-wise. However, all the Zimmerman pianos I have on my round are 122 size


Barri
by Barrie Heaton
09 Dec 2023, 17:51
Forum: Piano History
Topic: What is my Piano??
Replies: 1
Views: 513

Re: What is my Piano??

There were a few Hoffman Piano makers.
If we say yours is "W" Hoffman, the number you have given would place it around circa 1909

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
09 Dec 2023, 17:46
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Trying to find serial no. on small Marshall & Rose grand
Replies: 1
Views: 423

Re: Trying to find serial no. on small Marshall & Rose grand

The best person to ask would be your piano tuner. The sereal number sometimes can be found on the key blocks and on the bottom "A" key.

Normal visible places is on the frame, the soundboard in the top treble, the soundboard at the bottom base and bracings underneath the piano.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
09 Dec 2023, 17:42
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Adalbert Piano Dating
Replies: 2
Views: 409

Re: Adalbert Piano Dating

Adalbert is likelier to be the shop's name, not even in Pierce.
Sorry


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
09 Dec 2023, 12:06
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Unisons
Replies: 3
Views: 576

Re: Unisons

Unfortunately no, they will not be recorded as they are private one-to-one classes.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
09 Dec 2023, 10:55
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Unisons
Replies: 3
Views: 576

Re: Unisons

First of all, electronic tuning devices are not great at putting unisons in. You are better off learning how to do that by ear. The reason is you've got three strings to a note if two of them are in and one is out, the ETD ignores the one that's out. The video you posted shows the unison is out of t...
by Barrie Heaton
10 Nov 2023, 22:48
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Please help checking this 100s yrs old chappell (London) 85 keys piano
Replies: 2
Views: 581

Re: Please help checking this 100s yrs old chappell (London) 85 keys piano

For pianos of that age, the wood tends to get very brittle in the action; with the two endnotes not working, there's a good chance that the last tech used bits from the ends to repair parts in the middle. The piano could possibly be tuned at the pitch at that but this all depends on how you're going...
by Barrie Heaton
03 Nov 2023, 08:57
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Brooklyn Piano Co: C. Thurnam & Sons - History/Age?
Replies: 3
Views: 704

Re: Brooklyn Piano Co: C. Thurnam & Sons - History/Age?

The first name is the make of the piano, and the second name is the name of the shop that sold it originally, so you're only interested in the first name.

Brooklyn Piano Co. London, which was established circa 1890, was eventually bought out by Stroud Pianos in Gloucester.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
15 Oct 2023, 11:57
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Shipping a piano overseas
Replies: 5
Views: 840

Re: Shipping a piano overseas

If you're selling the piano in the UK and it's got ivoris and it's pre-1975s, then you need to register it, which is £20. Shipping to the AU with ivorys is a different ballgame however, the workaround would be to have the Ivory removed. And replace it with plastic. Sacrilege in my mind but these thi...
by Barrie Heaton
12 Oct 2023, 07:37
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Shipping a piano overseas
Replies: 5
Views: 840

Re: Shipping a piano overseas

Your best bet is Piano Logistics or G&R for overseas shipping they have the experience.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
30 Aug 2023, 10:56
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Exporting a piano
Replies: 3
Views: 851

Re: Exporting a piano

Much of the mahogany used in the UK was from the West Indies and Africa because it was used as ballast on ships. Human cargo was quite light, so it was needed, but the ships going back to Africa were loaded with British goods, so ballast was not needed. See https://blog.thakehamfurniture.co.uk/2011/...
by Barrie Heaton
28 Aug 2023, 14:37
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Exporting a piano
Replies: 3
Views: 851

Re: Exporting a piano

In the UK, we only used African ivory because Indian ivory is too brittle. If you need a DNA test, Lancaster University will do that. Your main problem is that the piano needs to be pre-1975 for Ivory and endangered woods, the only one in the UK at the moment on the endangered list is Brazilian rose...
by Barrie Heaton
16 Aug 2023, 17:47
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Neumeyer (London) Baby Grand - Sold at Harrods
Replies: 6
Views: 948

Re: Neumeyer (London) Baby Grand - Sold at Harrods

Sadly Harrods no longer has a piano department; however, if you ring or email customer services and ask them nicely, give them the Harrods serial number, they will tell you when it was sold. Sadly because of data protection, they can't tell you who they sold it to. Neumeyer did not publish numbers a...
by Barrie Heaton
07 Aug 2023, 17:46
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Broadwood barless grand
Replies: 3
Views: 2494

Re: Broadwood barless grand

What a pain


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
24 Jul 2023, 19:13
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Roberts and son of Lutron
Replies: 1
Views: 719

Re: Roberts and son of Lutron

As it's a pianola, I would ask here
http://www.pianola.com/

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
07 Jul 2023, 07:50
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Have you ever had a broken bass string on your upright piano? Is it possible to reinstall it?
Replies: 2
Views: 904

Re: Have you ever had a broken bass string on your upright piano? Is it possible to reinstall it?

That is a bad idea. You run the risk of breaking the hitch pin as you have doubled up on. You are adding twice the tention it was designed for.

You can splice a string or just replace it.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
06 Jul 2023, 19:22
Forum: Piano History
Topic: B Squire Dating/general Advice
Replies: 1
Views: 737

Re: B Squire Dating/general Advice

After 1960 they were made by Kemble pre-1908 there's very little serial number information

the 122 models you have are nice piano, however, like any old piano it's all down to how it's been looked after.

Bill Kibby will have more info you can PM him or go to his website or Facebook page

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
26 Jun 2023, 15:50
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: 20 years ago "What is Piano Tuning Pin Tightener?"
Replies: 2
Views: 842

Re: 20 years ago "What is Piano Tuning Pin Tightener?"

The problem with packing the pins is that you've got to take out every pin.
Pack the hole and put the pin back in. You might as well put larger pins in less time. Also, you have to consider the nuckels of the bass strings may not take it, if it's a very old piano.

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
07 May 2023, 14:33
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Age of my Rogers piano
Replies: 11
Views: 12473

Re: Age of my Rogers piano

Serial #24678, = c1910 -1911
Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
19 Mar 2023, 16:20
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8168

Re: Piano Action Regulation

Most of the courses are done in the USA, and yes, somebody who is a member of any piano organisation worldwide will be aware of that type course or should be.
by Barrie Heaton
12 Mar 2023, 11:30
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8168

Re: Piano Action Regulation

Ideally, you need a piano tuner who has attended Precision Touch Design Course.

https://www.stanwoodpiano.com/first.html

Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
10 Mar 2023, 08:56
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8168

Re: Piano Action Regulation

You've got to use a lot of mathematical formulas, and keep in mind the up weight and down weight of the action. It's not a wing-it-and-see process.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
08 Mar 2023, 16:44
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8168

Re: Piano Action Regulation

Making an action on an upright heavier involves putting weights at the back of the key to increase the inertia. On a grand piano, you add sliding weights on the hammer shanks to increase the inertia. However, like everything in life, it's not that simple. You've got to calculate and work out what yo...
by Barrie Heaton
07 Mar 2023, 08:55
Forum: Piano History
Topic: 70s or 80s Spencer piano serial no: 34910
Replies: 1
Views: 1556

Re: 70s or 80s Spencer piano serial no: 34910

The problem is that there are no published numbers for Spencer as a manufacturer after they ceased production in 1953, and the last published number was 95000. However, Kemble and Bentleys made the Pianos for them, but your serial number does not match the numbers of either company.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
02 Mar 2023, 20:59
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Menzel piano turned pianola
Replies: 2
Views: 1679

Re: Menzel piano turned pianola

The only info in Pierce is founded in 1890
sn 1935 - 4100

Try one of the German websites. You'll find some good links in the history section.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
01 Mar 2023, 16:30
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8168

Re: Piano Action Regulation

It all depends on if it a grand or upright, and the state of the hammers; if the hammers are only lightly cut, you can do it on-site. If the hammers are very badly cut, it will be a workshop job because you have to take the hammers off and group them in sets of 6 to reface in a vice. With voicing it...
by Barrie Heaton
27 Feb 2023, 20:50
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8168

Re: Piano Action Regulation

Refacing is taking out the small cuts that appear in the nose of the hammer over time. This can make the piano sound a lot clearer but it also makes the piano sound brighter so voicing is always required after refacing.


Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
26 Feb 2023, 09:44
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Yamaha YDP 131 serial number help
Replies: 2
Views: 1893

Re: Yamaha YDP 131 serial number help

Manufacturers do not publish dates for electronic pianos as they only tend to support spare parts for seven years. If you want more information, you could contact Yamaha at Milton Keynes. They may be able to cross-reference the serial number. They keep a list of numbers for warranty purposes. Barrie
by Barrie Heaton
23 Jan 2023, 18:45
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: The I M I T Annual Lecture
Replies: 3
Views: 2202

Re: The I M I T Annual Lecture

The only wood you've got to worry about is Brazilian rosewood; then you need a certificate failure to have a certificate when you sell it. it will be a £25,000 fine. If it's solid Ivory, you can't sell it in the UK. Pianos, come onto the 10% rule you need a certificate if you selling a piano with Iv...
by Barrie Heaton
19 Jan 2023, 20:15
Forum: Piano History
Topic: British made, a Serial Number and not much else...
Replies: 4
Views: 1909

Re: British made, a Serial Number and not much else...

It's a Bentley circa 1957

Barrie