UK Piano Page Piano Forum

Colin Nicholson

Few suggestions for easily listening/ about grade 4 -5/ nice solo pieces.... 1. Ring Dance (Ringeltanz) by Neils Gade (A minor/ A major/ A minor) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljOK2h14hSA (good performance at correct tempo) 2. Kuhlau sonatinas / Mozart sonatas 3. "All Creatures Great & Sm...

Colin Nicholson

Heard of that method.... needs good carpentry skills & lots of measuring. Another method (probably just as mad!/ piano couldn't be sold for money) .... would be to 'S' bend all the key capstan wires to the next note - losing top A85. Best if straight-strung and no breaks between keys. However on...

Colin Nicholson

As said at the signature of one of our members.... "it's not the piano that needs tuning, it's the customer" Classic case of an old piano never tuned for donkey's years, then expected to be used for transcribing music alongside professional gear. Here is the crux of the matter Manuel.... d...

Colin Nicholson

Jasi My intro to stencil pianos may have been misleading to you. Whichever "Stencil Piano" google page you choose, it won't list Volkner pianos - this is a generic term (usually used in the trade) to describe any piano with a made up name, or a name with spelling changes. Sometimes a retai...

Colin Nicholson

Never heard of that name.... look up "Stencil Piano" on Google. For some basic information, and possibly to see if the piano may be worth a follow-up inspection by a piano retailer/ tuner for its value, upload about 3 photos of your piano here.... but this is just for general info only. Ph...

Colin Nicholson

The best way to describe hammer movement is to think of bouncing a tennis ball. Keeping your hand about waist height and not moving it an inch, if you throw the ball hard to the ground hard (forte playing), it will rebound quickly and caught dead in its tracks by your hand. If you just drop the ball...

Colin Nicholson

Hi everyone, I would like to share a project that I have been asked to become involved in with a local heritage. A silent film has been recently discovered "The Wrecked Helter Skelter" 1912, showing original footage in B&W, with no sound. It shows scenes of a wooden roller coaster, don...

Colin Nicholson

I think what you may need to do is to book an appointment with a piano technician only, to assess the regulation of the piano mechanism.... not tune it, just assess - so pay him for a call out visit. If the piano has been reported as out of regulation, then you have a written document to approach yo...

Colin Nicholson

Thanks Bill
Will have a better look next time for other markings

Colin Nicholson

Hi Bill, Eventually got the Chappell in the workshop today. (Action & keys still in bits from Feb).... anyway, after other pianos, will make a proper start next week. I was determined to find the serial number, and after a night out, the torch came out.. and FOUND IT!! .... tucked away in an ova...

Colin Nicholson

Sad as it may be, I have various bits from a Lindner !.... that used to live in a butcher's pantry in Bradford (yes, fresh meat hanging next to it!) 1. 2 X crocodile jaw looking hammer flanges (springs OK) 2. A few set-off screws & plastic dollies (most have been unscrewed) 3. Nearly a full set ...

Colin Nicholson

Upright or Grand? If upright, depending on your regular custom & time allowed, most often small adjustments may be made (inadvertently) to the mechanism to "improve" performance - the odd tweak here and there, because the action is right there in front of the tuner's nose. Grands obvio...

Colin Nicholson

It's good you've spent the time and effort researching, well done.
Very interesting.

Colin Nicholson

Please read the last 2 sentences in the blue box above. Condition and whether worth restoring can only be known by an on-site face to face inspection. Serial number usually found behind action, behind bass strings near pedal trap on soundboard. If a Otto Higel action (Canada & London), those ham...

Colin Nicholson

Might be worth keeping hold of after what I have read about them in the past. Check the spelling of the piano name.... must be spelt correctly. Valuation can only be done by a face-to-face appointment, checking the piano properly. Some piano tuners don't do valuations, so best to check. Tuning a pia...

Colin Nicholson

Mrshilly Welcome to the piano forum. I have for purchase new piano keys for locking the fallboard on upright pianos. They are for the standard fitting lock on all types of upright pianos. If you click on my aatuners website below, my phone number is on there to exchange details over the phone. I can...

Colin Nicholson

sounds like the 2 ronnies sketch !

Colin Nicholson

.... just whistle it! F G A oooo C D E F ....

Colin Nicholson

Like a kid with a new toy this forum?

Colin Nicholson

One of the most common causes of heavy/ sluggish keys is DAMP. Damp spells rust and corrosion. This can cause the 'action' overall to slow down/ stick / not work. I noticed on one photo (the one with numbers punched) - the large damper rail screw, held in place with a domed wooden washer.... is very...

Colin Nicholson

Julie, Firstly, it is better if you try to keep all your posts on one page, so we can refer to previous comments and correspondence..... however, most of us have excellent memories! I think you may know part of the answer to what you said below.... " My question is regardless of whether I jam w...

Colin Nicholson

If you contact Butler Smith carriage/ piano removals, they may be able to help with International shipping. Website >> http://butlersmith.com/piano-removals/2904730 Phone >> 01487 814 263 (based near Huntingdon/ UK) or: 0800 085 0295 Ask to speak to Penny or Tony. Removal side of things, very reliab...

Colin Nicholson

I cannot guarantee any of the products or methods will work from your list, as I don't use these brands, so it's simply trial and error. If you start with a small hidden area to work on first, e.g. behind a leg (doing all stages), you will hopefully get some good results. Blistering old French polis...

Colin Nicholson

Have a look on various auction websites for similar pianos for pricing. Unable to give it a value here (see blue box above) - piano needs to be inspected and partly tuned to get a true value. Try Ebay (requires Paypal) / payment when sold. or Gumtree (free) (face to face, cash only on collection / d...

Colin Nicholson

Hi Julie, To strip down and re-polish this finish is difficult, even for a pro. What you see is not always real wood grain, much of it is painted on with a soft paint brush. You also need to be like a landscape artist to achieve the proper finished results..... however, have a go! .... nothing to lo...

Colin Nicholson

To clean up the veneer/ remove years of grime etc., mix 50% linseed oil and 50% malt vinegar in a small jar with lid (it will separate), shake it like mad until it mixes together and looks like a mustard colour. Rub it into the veneer to remove dirt etc - use cotton wool. Depending on the condition ...

Colin Nicholson

Some general advice here..... assuming you have removed the action, key slip rail, and each key can be removed and numbered/ working them in your hand, and not in-situ in the key frame?? PVA doesn't work for me as the plastic is not porous, & will peel off plastic when dry. Best to use impact ad...

Colin Nicholson

In the mid 80s, I had an Allison.... good pianos. I think you may have a hammer head missing (top treble), and next to it a hammer shank replacement. Quite common if the wood dries out and gets brittle. Ask your tuner to fit a humidifier tube inside, it may help to give the mechanism some long lost ...

Colin Nicholson

As Bill says, impossible to value unless face to face with piano, and of course we have only seen half the story - the exterior casework.... which is exquisite to say the least. I restored a "beast" about 10 years ago, a Carl Mand upright (about 58" in height!) - carvings to die for w...

Colin Nicholson

Very attractive and stunning from the outside, ivories look perfect. I would be interested in seeing the internal workings/ mechanism/ strings/ cast frame work, by removing completely the top front panel, fallboard (slides off upwards - the lid that covers the keys), and the bottom panel removed... ...

Colin Nicholson

Kawai & Yamaha would be my choice. Their names almost blend together as though they belonged to each other in the piano world. Other makes are also good, but in years to come - if selling - the former names are more recognised and often require no selling skills.... names speak for themselves. 1...

Colin Nicholson

Must agree.... someone's cheese has slid off their cracker !
Mental issues?

Colin Nicholson

I'm not quite sure if tutorials written in this format will help any novice? Parts of it are very confusing.... even by my standards! Also, please take care to get everything right when you propose to write a tutorial and lists of intervals. Presuming each interval is taken from 'C'....? C to G# is ...

Colin Nicholson

Click on 'Return to piano history' at the bottom of the page, then at the top (announcements) box, click on "Barrie Heaton" .... Barrie may be able to help

Colin Nicholson

Is it a self - adhesive decal with gold / metal lettering surface (shiny)? Or a water-based decal / flat surface ? (like a fallboard decal). If the adhesive type, try "easing" the glue with a warm hair dryer, and peel it off with your fingers. Perhaps try out then hair dryer on the inside ...

Colin Nicholson

Ask WHO is delivering the piano to your home.... themselves, or another company. ? If delivery is extra (and incorporated into the piano invoice, and shown separately), you have the right to remove that option, and arrange your own delivery company - but it depends on their policies. Also ask if the...

Colin Nicholson

Let your piano tuner know when they arrive about unusual sounds. The tuner will need to know exactly which note (or notes) is not right.... not "around Middle C" .... that's no good enough for a tuner. It is likely that one of the tri-chords has dropped in pitch a fraction. Quick test: ......

Colin Nicholson

I would agree with you there Barrie - good point. Thing for Stephen to bear in mind is that none of us know the piano or his whereabouts in the UK, or the type of repair. Should a further repair be needed (hopefully not), he will soon discover the rarity of this type of work - not many take on poly ...

Colin Nicholson

Is this the "top quality" Haesslar piano? ...... not any more :( Who is moving it.... Laurel & Hardy? !! If the piano has been damaged, they should offer another piano without question, and let them repair the damaged one for their show room. Very rare is a repair like that perfect - d...

Colin Nicholson

Either/ OR//// ..... Bluthner may have more 'pull' if and when it came to selling? (say in 20 to 30 years time)

Some future buyers may take a lot of convincing or may not accept the name Haessler
Bluthner speaks for itself.

Colin Nicholson

Thanks Bill.... I didn't scroll far enough down your page yesterday (after Collard).... and discovered the extra info about Higel. I pulled out the A1 key (very very tight) .... and no markings, so will ease the keys out gently when I get the piano. Unusual that the lower half / right side of the la...

Colin Nicholson

Bill, Went to see a Chappell upright yesterday, surplus to my colleague's stock - wanting rid of it, so I offered to take it. Looked everywhere for the serial number (not that they are 100% reliable) but couldn't find it. Action was already out because about 70 tapes in the middle section have broke...

Colin Nicholson

Hello You haven't said in your post what information you are seeking? Age? Condition? Some general advice. Firstly, the decal William Thompson could have been applied many years after the piano was manufactured, and possible sold several times, so not necessarily applied when the piano was new.... s...

Colin Nicholson

We do 2nd hand/ spare ivory head (front) key top replacements upon request for upright pianos - ask for details via my email or phone if interested.

Colin

Colin Nicholson

I don't have any info or dates for Brooklyn pianos, though in my book the company is said to be connected to "Green & Savage" (established 1876). Sometimes photos help showing the whole piano, and a photo showing the internal mechanism with the front panel removed (not a photo from the...

Colin Nicholson

Good to hear you got the piano OK.... looks nice. I am presently refurbishing a Kemble Minx (1951) .. with a drop action.... different ball game, but action similar. Although the keys have stopped sticking, the wooden key chasings will have shrunk a tiny amount, enough for the action to lift them ba...

Colin Nicholson

Very surprised by the inside lack of design.... ! .... thought there would be something in there.

Colin Nicholson

Nothing to stop a cabinet polisher/ restorer buying one of these ....

http://www.piercepianoatlas.com/catalog ... =Broadwood

Colin Nicholson

I don't think this is a Broadwood (anyone on the forum agree/ disagree?) I've seen this happen a few times where a fallboard has been swapped from an original scrapped piano (eg Bosendorfer); slightly modified and slots neatly into the side rebates. Walnut is easy to match after repolishing. Firstly...

Colin Nicholson

It would be interesting to know the serial number, and see a clear photo taken of it. Broadwood have separate serial numbers for cottages and uprights.... Also is there any kind of decal/ transfer/ raised iron lettering etc inside the piano to denote "Broadwood" ? Not referring to stuck-on...

Search found 1704 matches