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Johnkie

It would appear that everyone's going round and round in circles over the issues of where manufactured and where parts are sourced .... where the assembling is carried out etc etc. If the manufacturers can't (or won't) give a definitive answer to a direct question then I doubt that we could ever be ...

Johnkie

"US" - had me fooled too for a couple of seconds Mark ! UselesS or UnServiceable

Anyone know what's happened to Pianolove ? Keri seems to have disappeared .... I'm sure she could add to this thread by telling you off

Johnkie

Hi Jordan2 - The following link may help you :

http://www.morleypianos.com/harpsichords-&-clavichords

Johnkie

Grrrr ... not the sort of info I want to hear Marky

(Green just doesn't suit me

)

I do hope that you'll be taking a laptop with you, so that you can continue to fulfill your duties as Moderator

Johnkie

Sadly, the photo doesn't tell us very much. The name is most likely just a name that had been applied and bears no relationship to the manufacturer. If indeed, it was re-strung 2 years ago, it would have cost considerably more than the current asking price ..... a set of replacement bass strings and...

Johnkie

Priceless Marky

Johnkie

So, Mark just thought it might a friendly gesture to inform others that he is selling his Sprinter Van in case someone might be in the market for one ... and in the process, puts himself back in the firing line for silly comments. Pay no attention Mark, treat it with the contempt it deserves. I'm su...

Johnkie

Hi Jim, The chalk marks on your wrestpins would indicate only that someone has marked the "C's", and this normally happens if a tuner is doing a quick rough tuning without the action in place to get it back up to pitch using a plectrum. The chalk marks just indicate where (s)he is whilst d...

Johnkie

PianoLove wrote:You weren't supposed to TELL Jonkie- now I will have to post another one!

And keep it secret to keep anyone guessing who can't see it!

http://www.magiceye3ds.com/pictures.aspx?page=3

Whoops ..... Sorry PianoLove (and Colin) ...

I suppose the above magiceye sums me up then !!

Johnkie

Colin's : Bass clef, treble clef & a pair of quavers

PianoLove's: Drum & Trumpet

I love doing these magic eyes .... Keep 'em going

Johnkie

I have just bought a second-hand Kemble Oxford upright piano (hardly played) made in 2002 I believe. This was to replace a very old John Ellis piano which I loved playing. This Kemble has a very dry, (dead) sound unless I use the sustaining pedal compared with my old John Ellis. Also one or two not...

Johnkie

Ikea flatpack pianos ........... Screwdriver .... bit of glue .... and an allen key . Ikea-Goodwin flatpacks, has quite a nice ring about it !!

p.s. Did the Erard grand have a stupid little top prop in the bass end music desk guide ?

Johnkie

MARK GOODWIN !!!! - Have you suddenly developed a Death Wish ?

Another load, off to see their "Flat mates" !

Johnkie

Bless the bairn - against like brickwall banging a head your (re-arrange into a well knowm phrase or saying) -- What term could indicate an overly loving passion towards the pianoforte I wonder ..... Pianofortephillia ?

Johnkie

Smin : It would seem that you're convinced that the small lid stay is totally in keeping with the original design, and I certainly am not in any position (having not examined the instrument) to argue otherwise. It does however appear so unsafe ! Had the design had any merit others would have also in...

Johnkie

According to Brinsmead serial numbers, it was made in 1907 - Glad you like it so much .... enjoy

Johnkie

I have been watching this thread with quite a great deal of interest. From the photographs I personally would estimate this grand slap bang into the Art Deco period i.e.1930s - 1940s. It is not like any other example that I've ever seen that was manufactured by Erard. The small "lid stay" ...

Johnkie

That's a first Vernon .......... The first ever example of a "cut 'n shut" piano !!

- Could have both been found scrapped on the A 1160 at Bothnes .... a road renowned for fly tipping

Johnkie

God it's soooooooooooooo slow - A 15 minute job takes 40 minutes using this - I'm sick of having to wait around when a tuning is booked for 10:30 am and can't get at the piano until well past 11:00am. Another point is that it simply can't negotiate places that the good old fashioned specialist piano...

Johnkie

Made in Paris - 45-47 Rue La Boetie

Johnkie

That serial number would indicate that it was made in 1905 Edwin ... a mere 106 years old

Johnkie

rgreig : Robots with anything like the skill of a human hand could I dare say in theory, possibly be built to enable adjustment a piano's wrest pin to attain a pre-determined frequency, but it would still lack the "feel" of being able to set the pin so that every last bit of twist has been...

Johnkie

Ok ... here goes! The idea of a "self tuning" piano is already on the market .... it's called an electronic piano ! As for inventing anything that would enable a real piano to either tune itself or to be able to add a device as an attachment that would do the job ........ it'll never happe...

Johnkie

In reply to Jordan2's question about part time or short courses in piano tuning and repairs ... I wouldn't dream of encouraging anyone to undertake anything other than a recognised and accredited course, before giving access to a decent piano. He says that he is a concert pianist, so one should assu...

Johnkie

PianoLove : I'll look out the whole article and PM it to you within the next couple of days .... but here's a picture of Emily's Cabinet upright to be going on with.

Johnkie

PianoLove : I think I'd better stop banging my head on this particular "brick wall" ..... You're just a wonderfully incurable romantic ........ I bet you look gorgeous wearing rose coloured glasses. Did you hear about the restoration of Emily Bronte's piano ? If not, and you're interested ...

Johnkie

:) I do understand your passion, and all the hard work you have put into backing up that passion PianoLove :) - However it is a fact of life that pianos of that age are totally different to what we are used to now, and their age make them extremely fragile even after restoration. If one could build ...

Johnkie

There seems to be two sides to this! The first (from my own point of view) is that these old instruments are an absolute nightmare to have to work on. By today's standards they simply can't cut it ! The only time I would consider getting involved would be if it were to be used by someone specificall...

Johnkie

The rust on the strings (as shown in the photo) appears to be typical of localised rusting caused by water dripping through the top hinge .... something has been spilt on the piano top! :cry: Otherwise they don't look too bad. The tuning instability and dullness in some of the bass notes may well be...

Johnkie

I would put its age down as around 1904 ish - Pollards would have just been the suppliers. It is a huge beast, but pure quality through and through. The sound and power must be fabulous - although you do mention the tuning not staying put for very long. I wouldn't be surprised if central heating has...

Johnkie

It went for £27.15p !!! Someone got a real bargain I think

- PianoLove I think with all the posts you contribute here, and your love of the pianoforte, some of us should get you something decent (but cheap) when you do move and have room.

Johnkie

Well I never realised that ! I suppose I've just never noticed the Strads and Steinways using it in the symphony orchestras :wink: There again Feg, at my age, I should wear glasses more :lol: I suppose I should have said "instruments as used by top classical musicians". I stand corrected t...

Johnkie

Its all well and good expecting modern technology to make inroads into most things these days, but I can't see carbon fiber replacing quality tight grained spruce - If it was better I'd have expected the main players in the piano industry to have changed their manufacturing methods. Remember all the...

Johnkie

The "Mini Royal" has 85 notes, and should never be confused with the "mini" or "pianette" models .... They were (are) terrible, but the Mini Royal is a good piano with lots of omph .... just a bit fiddly to work on. I see that with 22 hours to go someone has place the f...

Johnkie

I saw one on Ebay a couple of weeks ago - light teak finish - Starting price was £200 ..... No bids and didn't sell! Shame really 'cause the Mini Royal was the most powerful instrument in its class. The over-stringing was so acute that its bass end sounded more like a big meaty upright. Not the best...

Johnkie

$3000 !! - I would be VERY careful before even thinking about buying a piano for this amount from a furniture shop (or antique shop). These people rarely know much about pianos, and just try the market to see if they can make make a sale to someone who knows no better. Don't part with any cash until...

Johnkie

I wouldn't persevere with trying to tune with a tuning lever that is a loose fit .... you'll end up rounding off the square and have real problems that will require replacement wrestpins. Not sure what country you're from or indeed whether you are a professional tuner, but the answer to this questio...

Johnkie

Vernon you come across as one of the good guys, who are prepared to straddle the line when it comes to helping out and you have my un-reserved respect. :D I wasn't for one single moment implying that either way of doing things was wrong, merely that one or two members sometimes seem a little too for...

Johnkie

I've just realised that there seems to be is a huge difference in standpoint from that of a tuner/technician (sole trader) and that of the tuner/technician that is a dealer :!: This topic alone seems to identify this difference. There appears to be two completely different views on "hammer repa...

Johnkie

Interesting post Colin - Although I've been up here in the North East for 41 years I've never come across or heard about any females in our trade locally, and can't recall any workshops in Stannington either .... would love to know more

Johnkie

HI Colin - I well remember the shop I used to work for back in the 1970s being so enthusiastic about the arrival of "these wonderful new type of piano" made by Lindner - later re-named Topic". They used to arrive in a cardboard packing case, with the keyboard hinged down so that it sa...

Johnkie

Sorry guys ... I do rate Baldwin & Wurlitzer - I've been unlucky enough to come across these from time to time and can honestly say that I would put them on a par with Lindner ..... 1 out of 10 - marginally better than a poke in the eye with a hot needle.

Johnkie

There you go Mark ............. Collin & Johnkie have you sorted in a flash .... what nice people we are. Please send all donations to

Johnkie

Looking at the picture I wouldn't think there would be any problem with having to remove the notch leather to get at the loop - I generally find that the leather remains clear of the loop hole - but by 'eck I hate :evil: having the fiddle of replacing springs, and/or loops, and then the joy of tryin...

Johnkie

Hi Mike, You look as thought you have a real challenge here, but nevertheless you should (with great care) be able to manage with the correct parts. If you contact Fletcher & Newman (01322 226441) and ask if you can purchase a set of "Jack or loop springs" item number 677 in their cata...

Johnkie

Quite right Vernon - Too many birthdays and it seems ... more and more senior moments :lol: However it has set me thinking and I now realise that it was all a ploy to train up the apprentices on iffy "highburys" where even the odd mistake wouldn't make that much of a difference, before gai...

Johnkie

I agree with you Bill - Trusses in this example .. if you look closely at the treble side, you can clearly see the filled screw hole where the truss was fixed. I well remember as a young apprentice down in the south having to load up part exs' just about this sort of standard and era, to be shipped ...

Johnkie

Interesting points of view here on this topic - I'm sure everyone has their preferred method, but surely one must also take into consideration the huge variation in cost associated with each suggestion. In an ideal world where cost doesn't matter new pre-hung sets would be fabulous, but sadly the ex...

Johnkie

No problemo Colin - Like you ... sleep comes way down on my agenda :wink: I agree with your comment about being mad too !!! But in the nicest possible way .... not like some. I fear that the original poster on this subject my have tried to remove the remaining threaded piece of the set off screw wit...

Johnkie

You'll end up burning the wood badly if you try heating from the snapped off end and have to turn the whole lot over to cover the burn marks. Heat the threaded part from underneath until the heat travels through the set off screw to the snapped off end, and any scorching that might happen will not t...

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