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Colin Nicholson

Thanks Barrie. I didn't know a DNA test could detect the age of ivory. Well its definitely before 1936! (see pic). The piano has been purchased (50% just now + shipping fees), and we are all trusting the Italians to a safe delivery.... Once the piano arrives here, I can assess the ivory issue later....

Colin Nicholson

Hi guys, I recently visited an Erard London semi-concert grand, and we are hopefully starting the shipping process very soon from Italy to UK. The piano is to undergo a 3/4 restoration, (excluding a full French Polish), and the ivories are still in excellent condition. The piano is dated 1860. The c...

Colin Nicholson

There may be a geometry problem now, and the whole/ part action will need to be regulated. This is assuming the action is under-damped In replacing the hammer rest felt (or baize), it is likely that the hammers are further forward towards the strings than before. This also has a knock-on effect as t...

Colin Nicholson

I have used Butler Smith regularly, and very reliable. They cannot allocate a specific date when you contact them, as they organise a few piano deliveries/ collections. I had a Kawai K5 moved from Yorkshire to London back in May.... usual turnaround is about 7 - 10 days. They will need to know the d...

Colin Nicholson

Therasa You will discover that many piano names are not listed on the internet, simply because they do not exist. Even if not listed on the internet, they still do not exist as a real name. Some pianos have alias names / retailer / shop name / .... and have a stencil name instead.... known as "Stenc...

Colin Nicholson

Have a look at Kawai digitals,,,, the ES range. I have the ES7 and is good.

Colin Nicholson

Never heard of laser treatment for pianos!
Good luck anyway, hope it all works well for you.

Colin

Colin Nicholson

Zooming in closer, on the left it says "Eavestaff" .... this is the maker's name. (On the right, saying Mini Piano) Holder Brothers of Hull were the retailers / shop who sold the piano at some stage - so not the maker's name. Ignore that. So you have a "Eavestaff Mini Piano" (sometimes named a "pian...

Colin Nicholson

We've had a real fiddle getting the strike points right in the treble, but we're pretty much there now. (We've been shifting the head up and down the shank). Are you using a hammer hanging jig? Best investment I made. Jig available by PianoTek (USA) and named the "Spurlock" price about £140 + overs...

Colin Nicholson

A few suggestions:- (these are just a guide) 1. Order a rubber O ring to fit in hole / glue in with impact adhesive. (Measure tab first) Here is an example: https://www.modelsport.co.uk/associated-rc8b3-shock-o-rings/rc-car-products/396471 Rubber O rings are usually used for Radio Controlled vehicle...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Your post would be better under a new heading, as this is about Rameau pianos, then others may reply more quickly. At first glance, the name "Schimmel" looks partly genuine (brass inlaid), but not sure about the initial letter "S" ? The originality of a piano far extends just a name on the fallbo...

Colin Nicholson

Octavia Have you booked an ABRSM piano exam before, or is this the first time? Is the exam for yourself or a pupil of yours? Which 2 years appear on the front of the piano pieces book? What grade are you doing? Whichever it is, you need to register with them first as the "applicant" (the person send...

Colin Nicholson

No harm in calling it either or (unless ordering felt!). I agree with what you say Vernon - perhaps I have confused its proper name for its purpose. In Reblitz - page 185/ section 13, there is a short reference to the purpose of the rail - hammers rebounding during loud staccato playing, but not res...

Colin Nicholson

Roxanne, Thank you for your post. If the serial number is correct (and not a casework/ cabinet number), it suggests the date of manufacture is 1914. In your own wording and in the text, there seems to be confliction between the type of piano you have. Is it an (1) upright, (2) grand (3)cabinet piano...

Colin Nicholson

If you buy the Reblitz book as I suggested/ and get the stuff Barrie has recommended (trade/ account only for F&N, so contact a local piano tuner to get you some), this book covers most stuff you mention - chapter 4/ minor repairs & cleaning. ...... did you measure the key height before removal? For...

Colin Nicholson

Just another couple of things...... You might find that you'll make the piano play worse than it did before you took the keys out, and so you'll have to undo any mistakes before you make improvements. It's quite common for a DIY enthusiast to strip the whole key frame/ vacuum out old washers etc, re...

Colin Nicholson

If you post 2 photos of one piano key, top & bottom (centre chasing "bushing" and front "bushing" areas) rebates, I'll be able to see if they were bushed or not. If the centre crowns (chasings) have side slots [some don't] or signs of old glue/red cloth remnants (and showing signs of lighter wood wh...

Colin Nicholson

Might be best you buy some books about pianos/ resto work / regulation etc. and read up on the dreaded spring & loop/ over-damped actions - most technicians don't touch them these days, and won't enter into any kind of technical data unless you pay them. 1. Piano Tuning, Servicing and Rebuilding by ...

Colin Nicholson

The make and model is not important at this stage, and doesn't make much difference for a starter renting. For any digital piano with a view to starting lessons, just note the following:- 1. Full 88 note keyboard / full sized keys (learning the geography of a keyboard is important early on) 2. Touch...

Colin Nicholson

vernon wrote:It's taken 81 years for me to learn that the hammer rest is called the"staccato rail." crikey as Boris would say

took me 20
quoted from a Mr A. Lawrence all those years back!

Colin Nicholson

It looks like the front panel has been reclined fully forward, resting above the keys laid down? This panel should lift out completely (slightly forward first, then lifted vertically), there will be about 3 wooden dowels locating it to the fallboard - take care you don't damage the dowels. The brass...

Colin Nicholson

The hammer shanks underside (not shafts, but I know what you mean), should hang about 3mm above the rest rail at rest, there must be a gap here, so the roller does the "resting" on the rep lever, not the shanks. The hammer rest rail is actually called a "staccato" rail, and used for mainly staccato/...

Colin Nicholson

Another thing.... If the key slip rail has warped slightly (or not adjusted right), this may cause a thump as the key comes back up; the rail should be bushed evenly/ not worn and no less than a 3mm gap hovering above the keys - found just behind the fallboard, running the whole length of the keyboa...

Colin Nicholson

There are two references to Weidig in my piano book, but very little information, and no serial numbers. 1. WEIDIG, C.W.. Jena, Germany 1843 2. WEIDIG, GEORGE, Est 1890, Germany at Regenburg Yours is likely to be No. 1.... but only shows when established (1843) and country. Numbers will be of no use...

Colin Nicholson

It sometimes depends on ownership/ affiliations / other names taking over a company such as brothers/ alias names. Hoffmann have over 15 different manufacturing names (some not related), some made in Germany/ Austria/ USA/ Sweden, however they are made in China now. a company buying and taking over,...

Colin Nicholson

Thanks Bill, very interesting.
The ads in those days say a lot, and right next to WW1 issues aswell.
cheers
Colin

Colin Nicholson

Thought this section was getting a bit quiet, so I hope to spark something into life! Bill / anyone Just started a resto project on a 1907 Hopkinson (Arts & Crafts) / over-strung / under-damped/ full frame with exposed plank/ ivories. (everything inside is covered in black coal dust!) - Schwander ke...

Colin Nicholson

Please read this.... and re information in the blue box above for valuations

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9586&p=44981#p44981

Colin Nicholson

I regularly use my "Rexel" binding machine to bind together piano music/ theory notes etc. with plastic spiral binders (black, red or white). The rectangular punch holes are cut fairly near the edge of the paper, and no where near the start or end of clefs/ brackets/ musical directions etc. I also p...

Colin Nicholson

Fully agree Vernon. Nothing to do with tuning/ hammers / toning / servicing / key bed.... this sounds like a major defect in the soundboard losing its crown, hence loss of down-bearing near the bridge, or negative (up) bearing at the agraffes/ da capo bars. If the soundboard has lost crown, the brid...

Colin Nicholson

Couple of questions first
1. What is your budget? (what do you mean by cheap?)
2. Do you want to buy new or second hand ?

Colin Nicholson

It looks like you are answering someone else's question, but with the recipient's comments missing?
Obviously no one has a clue what you are talking about unless we know which piece of music you are referring to, or upload part of the music here.

??????

Colin Nicholson

You will probably need to contact Yamaha Technical Services for help/ advice.
Give them your details / location / piano model / serial number and fault of piano.

https://uk.yamaha.com/en/support/contacts/

Colin Nicholson

Hi Vicky Got the T shirt! (or used to wear it!) I feel for you, and I know what you are going through. Sometimes no immediate solution. Sometimes kids start a taj too early for "proper" lessons, and I feel bass clef may be a touch early. Best to just stick with Treble clef for now/ games etc/ right ...

Colin Nicholson

You would never get an exact age to the year for this piano, partly because the suspected serial number is normally the location for a cabinet or stock number, and probably should only be four digits not five. Impossible to check because the name of the piano is not known to the world. In cases like...

Colin Nicholson

I am assuming the dealer is not a tuner? (sometimes presumed, but dealers are often just dealers) The tuning visits may vary at first, but I would estimate every 6 months which is the norm. As the piano is dated 2009, I don't know when it was last tuned / tuned in the shop? If the pitch has slipped,...

Colin Nicholson

Excellent choice! Should give you years of pleasure. I have the K5 Kawai (2013), and ideal for my teaching & performance. One thing you should consider is to fit a "Hydroceel" humidifier tube inside the top, and coupled with a digital thermometer and hygrometer that sits on your piano (one is no goo...

Colin Nicholson

Something we never know about a piano, even after a professional inspection is tuning stability - this is the period of time after it has been tuned, then allowed to settle in time. Stability means how long it will stay in tune.... the only person who knows this is the previous owner, if they have h...

Colin Nicholson

For someone even to be given this piano/ restorer etc.... the cost of the removal would be 10 times more than the value of the piano, unless someone had their own van. Also, the condition of the casework/ huge contrasts in veneer colour/ fading/ sun bleached etc.... quite an expensive process to str...

Colin Nicholson

Caroline, You are nearly there, so don't give up just yet! OK.... ring Brian (sorry, I don't know who he is or anyone else in your area), and ask for a quote, giving approx. distance. If he agrees, and you are happy with the price, then contact the seller for their full address and phone number.... ...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Caroline, If you speak to any local piano tuner in your area (just Google "Piano Tuners in London" / example city), they will probably just charge a call-out fee for checking the piano over, so prices may vary depending on location/ for example, if you live about 20 miles away from civilisation (...

Colin Nicholson

No 2nd piano bought privately can be 100% reliable and its "worth"/ rating/ name , unless an inspection is made first. The name in general is a good reference to start from, but it also depends on what you paid and condition. We know the approximate retail value of these pianos, so it's selling pric...

Colin Nicholson

You haven't said whereabouts you live? .... that is very important. Town or city name will do for now. Also access for piano.... ground floor? ...... steps? You will need to very patient to sell your piano. You will also be desperate for the space to put your newer piano in place? Will be much earli...

Colin Nicholson

The serial number looks genuine, but dated 1972 - so not too far out. Given manufacturing time, wrest plank resting time/ drying out etc could be a few years earlier, so for sake of argument say around 1970.... so nearly half a century old. Pianos this age have every reason to have small defects and...

Colin Nicholson

Something not quite right here (one of my hunches!) -- OK, the member wondered what the heck was going on with losing stability, yet, the tuner just came back to tune those singles THREE times? -is that it? Surely some questions would be asked with answers? I might have hit a chord with what the tun...

Colin Nicholson

Just be careful the bridle tapes don't start to break off when looking for numbers with action out. They look OK at the moment, but when an action of this age is removed, the undercarriages/ jacks are now suspended by the tapes so they don't dislocate because they are no longer resting on the key ca...

Colin Nicholson

Losing tuning stability can be an issue for grand pianos around forty years old and older (when they reach 40, they ARE classed as being "old" - usually applies to the trade). As the wrest plank tapers out in the bass, same thickness of maple, but narrower than the rest - can be issues.... some Blut...

Colin Nicholson

If your tutorial book does not have specific left hand exercises, then I recommend buying "Piano Lessons Book 1" by Harewood & Waterman (published by Faber).... they deal with left hand shortly after right hand starts. Be patient though, LH takes MUCH longer to develop, and as your tutor says, will ...

Colin Nicholson

If you get a tuner to assess it/ check it over, part of their job is to randomly tune & test a few tuning pins for stability and pin torque - this part is vital.... so.... the piano must be assembled fully back into its "upright" position with pedal lyre attached and plenty space allowed around it -...

Colin Nicholson

how's the project going?
any new developments/ near completion?

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