Search found 440 matches

by chrisw
19 Mar 2024, 11:42
Forum: Piano History
Topic: History & age F. Rubenstein piano
Replies: 1
Views: 9

Re: History & age F. Rubenstein piano

Sorry, F.Rubenstein is not listed in my reference book.
by chrisw
01 Mar 2024, 21:04
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: New server
Replies: 1
Views: 75

Re: New server

Thanks, Barrie
by chrisw
21 Feb 2024, 17:02
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Age Inquiry: John Brinsmead & Sons Upright Piano
Replies: 1
Views: 136

Re: Age Inquiry: John Brinsmead & Sons Upright Piano

I don't know what the capital A stands for but if the serial number was 82116 it would put year of manufacture between 1925 and 1930.
by chrisw
04 Feb 2024, 17:23
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: fantaisie impromptue tips
Replies: 1
Views: 185

Re: fantaisie impromptue tips

I avoid Chopin so I cannot give much advice. The tempo appears to be fast enough and I would not try to play it faster, in fact I would be tempted to slow it down and I would think carefully about how much sustain pedal to use.

You have done well to memorise this music.
by chrisw
23 Jan 2024, 16:20
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Help identifying a upright piano
Replies: 2
Views: 333

Re: Help identifying a upright piano

Herrburger Brooks are the people who made the action and maybe the keys also. If you are able to take the upper front panel off the piano and then remove the lowest key, it may have the year of manufacture stamped on the side of the key. As Barrie says, probably not worth very much money. If you wan...
by chrisw
30 Dec 2023, 14:41
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 Dr.L did not recognise the serial number so you are likely to be correct, Barrie, that it is a copy. I'm surprised that piano companies can g...
by chrisw
27 Dec 2023, 12:05
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Merry Christmas everyone
Replies: 8
Views: 1152

Re: Merry Christmas everyone

Marianne came to tune on Dec 18th and she confirmed that she has recently been training two people to tune, one in Manchester and the other in north Lancs. She was happy that my piano had been stable over the eight months since she had last visited and that she would call again in about six months. ...
by chrisw
25 Dec 2023, 17:06
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Merry Christmas everyone
Replies: 8
Views: 1152

Re: Merry Christmas everyone

Thank you Barrie. Happy Christmas to you and yours too. All the best for 2024.
by chrisw
09 Nov 2023, 08:28
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

Kate, if you are a beginner you need a piano that can be put into tune. This piano is becoming so old that it may not be capable of being put into tune and the only way to find out is to have it inspected by a piano tuner. I would imagine this to cost say something up to £100.You can also ask them t...
by chrisw
29 Oct 2023, 20:26
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Identifying a D'almaine Piano
Replies: 2
Views: 576

Re: Identifying a D'almaine Piano

It is a spinet upright. D'almaine is not registered in my book as a piano maker.
by chrisw
03 Oct 2023, 08:49
Forum: Piano History
Topic: WH Barnes / Stahl
Replies: 3
Views: 4386

Re: WH Barnes / Stahl

Hi. We have a W. H. BARNES Ltd., D’ALMAINE piano sitting in our hallway in Devon for the last 26 years. It belonged to my mother, father and brother who have all now unfortunately passed away. This piano was bought around 1937? I was born in 1944 in Twickenham and I always remember it being in our ...
by chrisw
02 Sep 2023, 15:51
Forum: Piano History
Topic: J. Becker grand piano
Replies: 29
Views: 40189

Re: J. Becker grand piano

Judging from the design of the case , the serial number and what little information I have about Becker pianos I would guess the year of manufacture somewhere between 1880-85.
Also very little in the way of value.
by chrisw
01 Aug 2023, 16:50
Forum: Digital Pianos
Topic: Yamaha YDP 151
Replies: 5
Views: 11873

Re: Yamaha YDP 151

Kheijhackt wrote: 01 Aug 2023, 04:44 By practicing on yamaha ydp 151, will I be able to adapt quickly when I suddenly play on a real grand piano (public pianos for example)?
Suggest you try to find out. Lots of people would find a sudden change to be difficult.
by chrisw
27 Jul 2023, 10:39
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Monington and Weston Baby Grand
Replies: 1
Views: 735

Re: Monington and Weston Baby Grand

Suggest you engage a tuner to have a look at it and determine if the tuning pins are tight. Having it tuned would be the next step.
by chrisw
25 Jul 2023, 07:20
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: DIY Refinishing
Replies: 2
Views: 1063

Re: DIY Refinishing

The piano veneer looks to be teak. (teak finish was very fashionable in the 1970's ). If so it should be treated with teak oil which will darken it a little followed by a dark wax. Be careful if you start to 'sand' the surface since the veneer could be thin and you might go through it to the timber ...
by chrisw
24 Jul 2023, 17:04
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Likely start to Victorian piano tuning career
Replies: 2
Views: 4386

Re: Likely start to Victorian piano tuning career

S.Smith, you could try sending a personal message as the recipient will be alerted by email.
by chrisw
15 Jul 2023, 16:46
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Erard Paris 1929, to London and Liverpool...
Replies: 1
Views: 705

Re: Erard Paris 1929, to London and Liverpool...

Well that is a lovely story. Hope the restoration goes well.
by chrisw
22 Jun 2023, 22:38
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: The Barless Club
Replies: 28
Views: 37996

Re: The Barless Club

Congratulations. No doubt it will be an emotional home coming.
by chrisw
10 Jun 2023, 10:46
Forum: Piano History
Topic: James Farmer piano history
Replies: 1
Views: 764

Re: James Farmer piano history

I remember the Taphouses' shop in Magdalen Street Oxford but have no information about James Farmer pianos. My book does contain reference to S.Farmer & Co pianos and gives a serial number of 15937 dated 1921.
by chrisw
23 Mar 2023, 10:06
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Victorian walnut concert grand piano by Erard of London
Replies: 2
Views: 3289

Re: Victorian walnut concert grand piano by Erard of London

Patent number or serial number ? If the former I have no information and if the latter it makes your piano earlier than Victorian.
by chrisw
25 Feb 2023, 18:24
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Yamaha YDP 131 serial number help
Replies: 2
Views: 1893

Re: Yamaha YDP 131 serial number help

Wikipedia has a list of Yamaha corporation products from which it looks like the YDP 131 was first made available in 2005. The only dated serial numbers that I can access are for acoustic pianos and not digital.
by chrisw
04 Feb 2023, 15:55
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Dagmar piano, what is it ?!
Replies: 4
Views: 2156

Re: Dagmar piano, what is it ?!

If it has a Herrberger Brooks(HB) action it is likely the date of manufacture is found somewhere on the action. The lowest note key on my piano, which has a HB action, has been time stamped. Ask your tuner to have a look.
by chrisw
03 Feb 2023, 21:16
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Dagmar piano, what is it ?!
Replies: 4
Views: 2156

Re: Dagmar piano, what is it ?!

Dagmar are mentioned in The Musician's Piano Atlas but apart from saying that James Smith &sons,76/72 Lord Street Liverpool were the sole agents it says little else. Sorry but I do not have a list of serial numbers and dates.
by chrisw
16 Jan 2023, 19:10
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: The I M I T Annual Lecture
Replies: 3
Views: 2202

Re: The I M I T Annual Lecture

Barrie,
Do you think this lecture will be more about ivory than timber?
C
by chrisw
01 Jan 2023, 10:14
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Beadle & Langbein piano
Replies: 44
Views: 60875

Re: Beadle & Langbein piano

Retrola,
Suggest you make contact with
https://www.pianola.org.uk/
by chrisw
30 Dec 2022, 17:28
Forum: Idle Chitchat
Topic: Roberts Pianos Zoom Meet 2nd Jan
Replies: 1
Views: 2905

Re: Roberts Pianos Zoom Meet 2nd Jan

I logged into the first meeting and hope join on 2nd Jan 23 using Zoom. I wasn't keen on the Wonder Room last time but guess that it could work well if there are more than one conversations going on.
by chrisw
21 Dec 2022, 09:28
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Moving piano to London - is it worth it?
Replies: 1
Views: 1476

Re: Moving piano to London - is it worth it?

Hello Berria, I think that only you can make that decision because it has to take into account how much you like the piano and perhaps how much you are prepared to spend on a replacement. I had not heard of a Kawai CX-21H model before but there is information about them on the net. If you like how t...
by chrisw
16 Dec 2022, 17:33
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Considering buying a Welmar
Replies: 3
Views: 1784

Re: Considering buying a Welmar

Congratulations, I hope you will enjoy it. Please let us know when it arrives.
by chrisw
16 Dec 2022, 12:13
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Considering buying a Welmar
Replies: 3
Views: 1784

Re: Considering buying a Welmar

Welmar is a good make. I haven't visited Park Pianos but have known about them for quite a few years and would certainly be willing to visit them if I was in the market for a new piano. On their website they are offering this Welmar with a three year warranty so that seems reasonable. Give them a ri...
by chrisw
30 Nov 2022, 12:28
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano Action Regulation
Replies: 32
Views: 8169

Re: Piano Action Regulation

I know very little about regulation but my understanding is that it refers to taking up lost motion in the key stroke due to felt compaction and adjustment of the hammer let off points. Your symptoms regarding the pedal movements strike me as caused by age related reduction of lubrication which your...
by chrisw
29 Nov 2022, 11:26
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Inherited Rönisch piano
Replies: 5
Views: 2187

Re: Inherited Rönisch piano

Ronisch are (were) a well respected German make and there seems to be plenty of information on the net. As an inherited piece your piano is likely to have more value to yourself than anyone else. In general old unrestored pianos are worth next to nothing although cannot comment specifically on your ...
by chrisw
25 Nov 2022, 23:01
Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
Topic: Trill speed--what is possible?
Replies: 5
Views: 9953

Re: Trill speed--what is possible?

Eighteen notes per second would definitely be too difficult for me, even 10 notes a second would be a challenge. The following video hopefully shows that it is not the piano action which is the limiting feature!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud3goJHb3zY&t=159s
by chrisw
22 Nov 2022, 22:19
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Feurich 179
Replies: 9
Views: 2857

Re: Feurich 179

You are not being unreasonable in expecting a brand new piano case to be in pristine condition when you take delivery, irrespective of price. If case work is getting marked in transit from China to the dealer then the dealer should have the damage repaired before it goes out to customers. What can o...
by chrisw
21 Nov 2022, 21:29
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Schumann Piano Help
Replies: 5
Views: 2325

Re: Schumann Piano Help

I think it most unlikely that the origin of the frame and/or the naming of the action would be misrepresented. It is possible that the keys may also have been produced by the Langer company and if so there is likely to be a stamp on the lowest white key showing the name Herrberger Brooks, Long Eaton...
by chrisw
21 Nov 2022, 16:35
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Upright Witton & Witton piano
Replies: 2
Views: 1562

Re: Upright Witton & Witton piano

If you can find the serial number it might be possible to say when it was made.Serial numbers are usually stencilled at the top of the iron frame near the tuning pins and you may have to take the front off to see it..
by chrisw
19 Nov 2022, 14:49
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Schumann Piano Help
Replies: 5
Views: 2325

Re: Schumann Piano Help

I would be encouraged that it has a British made Langer action.
by chrisw
18 Nov 2022, 12:05
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: 1st piano for a 9 years old
Replies: 6
Views: 2329

Re: 1st piano for a 9 years old

Besides Knight, other good British pianos are Kemble, Chappell and Welmar. Yamaha and Kawai are good pianos but can be pricey even secondhand.. Fazer pianos are probably worth considering. A learner needs to like the sound of the instrument being played.
by chrisw
18 Nov 2022, 12:05
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: 1st piano for a 9 years old
Replies: 6
Views: 2329

Re: 1st piano for a 9 years old

Besides Knight, other good British pianos are Kemble, Chappell and Welmar. Yamaha and Kawai are good pianos but can be pricey even secondhand.. Fazer pianos are probably worth considering. A learner needs to like the sound of the instrument being played.
by chrisw
16 Nov 2022, 10:57
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: 1st piano for a 9 years old
Replies: 6
Views: 2329

Re: 1st piano for a 9 years old

The Ritz does look reasonable but to diagnose any faults and estimate the cost of fixing them you really need to hire a tuner/technician to look it over. Have you scanned the Facebook page "Piano for sale UK" to give you an idea what other pianos are available ?
by chrisw
13 Nov 2022, 09:09
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Feurich 179
Replies: 9
Views: 2857

Re: Feurich 179

I have not had the pleasure of playing a Feurich grand or upright but I am aware that many people recommend them. When I was looking to replace my upright with a grand there was a piano shop in the southern lake district that had stocked them which was owned by a piano technician and restorer and I ...
by chrisw
11 Nov 2022, 17:16
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Yamaha GA1 advise please help
Replies: 35
Views: 10545

Re: Yamaha GA1 advise please help

Thanks for the update. It is good to know you are happy with your new piano.
by chrisw
10 Nov 2022, 16:07
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Erard 83978
Replies: 3
Views: 2288

Re: Erard 83978

The casework looks very nice and no doubt this piano would grace any sizeable room as a piece of furniture. The date of 1901 is reasonably accurate according to Taylor's Piano Atlas. I would however be concerned if this piano is suitable for a learner and would recommend that its condition is thorou...
by chrisw
26 Oct 2022, 19:33
Forum: Digital Pianos
Topic: Repeated keys muffled in Kawai CN39
Replies: 2
Views: 4904

Re: Repeated keys muffled in Kawai CN39

Does it make any difference if you ensure that the key you are playing comes back to the very top before playing it again ? Do you know if the CN39 has double or triple sensors ? Is this something that has just developed or has this behaviour been there since new ? If it is the same on all keys my g...
by chrisw
26 Oct 2022, 08:12
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Need help dating my Nelson London Upright
Replies: 5
Views: 2362

Re: Need help dating my Nelson London Upright

Thanks for the photograph. It is not often I see older pianos and can only guess this is from the mid to late 19th century. If you can hang on a week or two there may be another reply to your post.
by chrisw
25 Oct 2022, 14:53
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Need help dating my Nelson London Upright
Replies: 5
Views: 2362

Re: Need help dating my Nelson London Upright

Nelson do not appear in Taylor's Piano Atlas and this leads me to think it is a stencil brand. If you would like to post a photograph perhaps someone could estimate roughly when your piano was made.
by chrisw
09 Oct 2022, 12:29
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Yamaha GA1 advise please help
Replies: 35
Views: 10545

Re: Yamaha GA1 advise please help

Just watched Bonners' video on the NV5. It looks really impressive. I wonder if Kawai will introduce a wooden soundboard into the NV10 in the next iteration.
by chrisw
05 Oct 2022, 14:22
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Yamaha GA1 advise please help
Replies: 35
Views: 10545

Re: Yamaha GA1 advise please help

Please let us know how you find the NV5 in terms of touch, repeatability of notes, resonance etc although I would expect it to be very much like an acoustic piano. I am quite impressed with the Kawai CA99.
by chrisw
04 Oct 2022, 19:21
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Yamaha GA1 advise please help
Replies: 35
Views: 10545

Re: Yamaha GA1 advise please help

Oh no! Must be very disappointing.
by chrisw
25 Sep 2022, 16:35
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Yamaha GA1 advise please help
Replies: 35
Views: 10545

Re: Yamaha GA1 advise please help

Do you have an alternative position further away from the radiator ? Two feet may be ok but if the radiator raises the temperature of the air around the soundboard it will drop the humidity. The humidity immediately below and above the soundboard ideally needs to be at 40%-60%. Buy a hygrometer and ...