Search found 910 matches

by vernon
11 Dec 2012, 21:02
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Guidelines for setting backchecks
Replies: 19
Views: 20505

Re: Guidelines for setting backchecks

I assume you are regulating the action out of the piano and on the bench.
by vernon
09 Dec 2012, 23:34
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Buying a piano
Replies: 6
Views: 9068

Re: Buying a piano

Be safe and sound and consider the Kawai K15 of even better K2
by vernon
09 Dec 2012, 23:30
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Scotchers Ltd
Replies: 7
Views: 8437

Re: Scotchers Ltd

Bill
Why can't you charge a one off fee for your erudite observations?
?
I'm sure most people would part with a few bob to fund your research that is offered free,
by vernon
28 Nov 2012, 19:54
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Brodmann, coming to a solution
Replies: 46
Views: 40994

Re: Brodmann, coming to a solution

Why do sensible people buy pianos that dson't work properly
by vernon
27 Nov 2012, 17:06
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil
Replies: 13
Views: 14209

Re: Piano Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil

I thought a muffler was a thing piano tuners with colds put round their neck and Americans put on the end of their exhaust pipes,or as we have it up here-their reek spoots
by vernon
26 Nov 2012, 22:29
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil
Replies: 13
Views: 14209

Re: Piano Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil

Bill
I answered before I saw the pic of the puke- green celeste rail!

vk
by vernon
26 Nov 2012, 19:59
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil
Replies: 13
Views: 14209

Re: Piano Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil

what does the middle pedal do?
Not many pianos of that vintage had 3 pedals-- mainly Canadian ,but their 3rd pedal just lifted the bass dampers for some reason.
by vernon
25 Nov 2012, 21:11
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil
Replies: 13
Views: 14209

Re: Piano Barratt & Robinson - São Paulo - Brazil

This looks to me like a quite old piano on which someone has done a major upgrade of the case work.
The variegated colours and distinctive columns suggest a1950s " modernisation" of the case
by vernon
18 Nov 2012, 22:47
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano page on my website
Replies: 8
Views: 11405

Re: Piano page on my website

ta,
Joseph
by vernon
18 Nov 2012, 19:04
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Piano page on my website
Replies: 8
Views: 11405

Re: Piano page on my website

Don't forget Loch Ness Pianos in Inverness--the oldest family piano business in Britain!! Since 1825 ay least.
bw
vk
by vernon
11 Nov 2012, 20:48
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Berry 6 octave upright- how old?
Replies: 16
Views: 20209

Re: Berry 6 octave upright- how old?

At Barratt and Robinsons in The Grove, N.London,,Mr Kastner( he was German I think-he had a teutonic accent)was their engineer who designed the action and made the machines to produce them. As Bill says,this will have been one of theirs. I never knew till now that B&R made Berrys tho we sold doz...
by vernon
11 Nov 2012, 16:16
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Berry 6 octave upright- how old?
Replies: 16
Views: 20209

Re: Berry 6 octave upright- how old?

I would guess from the style 1970s. It still has the old style Berry label. I didn't know Berrys were still around i tne 70s tho.
I don't remember them!
by vernon
28 Oct 2012, 15:47
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Perzina 112 - some notes sound muted
Replies: 20
Views: 22419

Re: Perzina 112 - some notes sound muted

proper Piano Regulation is a trade on it's own. Generally, piano tuners should be able to adjust defective notes and remedy everyday faults. A piano technician is different.Plenty of analogies spring to mind; the GP and the surgeon-- the skipper and the leading seaman. All specific skills . When the...
by vernon
27 Oct 2012, 09:57
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: My first Piano
Replies: 5
Views: 7435

Re: My first Piano

early 1920s. open plank etc
by vernon
22 Oct 2012, 18:04
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Perzina 112 - some notes sound muted
Replies: 20
Views: 22419

Re: Perzina 112 - some notes sound muted

If it has splt wedge dampers they are notorious for not completely clearing although they appear to have. Are the first two or three bass dampers fouling the strings of the last couple of notes before the brak.Behind and underneath? You can;t see what they are doing and there is a quick test to chec...
by vernon
18 Oct 2012, 23:30
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: My Brodmann, Mozart
Replies: 11
Views: 15366

Re: My Brodmann, Mozart

Strings going on a modern piano? hmmm Something far wrong there.
I can't recall replacing a broken string IN YEARS from playing.
by vernon
28 Sep 2012, 18:47
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: John Broadwood Piano
Replies: 3
Views: 5821

Re: John Broadwood Piano

you can often get a piano that's ivories are laid so well that you can't see the join. We've got in stock a beautiful Danemann grand with that feature. Of course, some have ivories in one piece, hence no join. It's easy to tell however; scratch the side of the "ivory" after depressing a ke...
by vernon
21 Sep 2012, 22:12
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Art Deco Allison Baby Grand - Stool Sought!
Replies: 5
Views: 7622

Re: Art Deco Allison Baby Grand - Stool Sought!

Richard Reason is c/o Piano Auctions too I think
by vernon
21 Sep 2012, 22:10
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Sluggish piano keys
Replies: 1
Views: 3904

Re: Sluggish piano keys

sluggish keys on their own are generally a 5 minute job for the tuner to ease them
by vernon
19 Sep 2012, 19:56
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Sdhimmel pedal.
Replies: 19
Views: 21762

Re: Sdhimmel pedal.

Gassy is it?
by vernon
15 Sep 2012, 20:26
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Sdhimmel pedal.
Replies: 19
Views: 21762

Re: Sdhimmel pedal.

Gill There's your epiphany! If Mad Alex Salmond turns into a turd,sorry,toad, then you can give him a big kiss and he will become your Prince Charming and whisk you up the glens with a sporran full of porridge and a caber up his kilt. You could then tune together happily ever after Get some romance ...
by vernon
14 Sep 2012, 20:32
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Sdhimmel pedal.
Replies: 19
Views: 21762

Re: Sdhimmel pedal.

I've now scrutinised our Schimmels and cannot see how your problem arises.There seems to be lots of spare room.Careful adjustment with a hammer seems indicated. However,speaking as a diy student of psychiatry and occasional brain surgery I feel the cause could be more personal. I suggest it could be...
by vernon
13 Sep 2012, 23:48
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Sdhimmel pedal.
Replies: 19
Views: 21762

Re: Sdhimmel pedal.

Ive got two Schimmels at the mo and will investigate their entrails the morrow as it's time for beddy-byes
by vernon
08 Sep 2012, 21:53
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: New British Cavendish Piano
Replies: 20
Views: 28868

Re: New British Cavendish Piano

prices?
by vernon
31 Aug 2012, 19:37
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Tuning a piano 'moulds the mind'
Replies: 6
Views: 8665

Re: Tuning a piano 'moulds the mind'

I've had a very busy week and my hippocampus is aching. According to " Material World" on BBC 4 Friday(same subject) this bit of the brain does lots of other things too though they didn't mention what, save memory. I suspect my hippocampus is so developed over years of trying to get false ...
by vernon
07 Aug 2012, 21:16
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Help with piano pedals
Replies: 14
Views: 17419

Re: Help with piano pedals

if the pedals work on flush dowels(viz bechstein) mark each dowel with it's orientation before removal otherwise the finished job may be worse than when you started. PLEASE get a technician to do it.
by vernon
06 Aug 2012, 22:54
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: durability of action
Replies: 26
Views: 25738

Re: durability of action

A "young" piano should exhibit none of these problems, Clearly a warranty job so get on to them asap. Get it changed if neccessary. If you've bought it you are entitled to a fully working instrument without having to consult technicians et al about re- regulating and adjustments etc. If it...
by vernon
05 Aug 2012, 23:33
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Help with piano pedals
Replies: 14
Views: 17419

Re: Help with piano pedals

commonest problem is that the pedal rods have been juxtaposed. Try swapping them over. I've never had much problem with pedals.
by vernon
30 Jul 2012, 09:42
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Restringing ?
Replies: 29
Views: 32480

Re: Restringing ?

Of course,it's critical that the damper bushings are 100% otherwise the dampers will wave about in all directions like the driven corn and be un-regulateable( or some similar word)
by vernon
29 Jul 2012, 16:56
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Restringing ?
Replies: 29
Views: 32480

Re: Restringing ?

"can't be bothered" springs to mind.
Seating dampers nicely is time consuming and needs a mirror resting on the strings behind so you see if they are tipped forward.
Standard practice.
by vernon
26 Jul 2012, 12:16
Forum: Piano History
Topic: H Clemens upright piano
Replies: 9
Views: 15164

Re: H Clemens upright piano

As the term"finisher" is a technical piano trade one, it could suggest that it was assembled from bought in parts (blank action,dampers,hammers etc.) and "finished" i.e. assembled, made to work and regulated by them.
by vernon
23 Jul 2012, 08:34
Forum: Piano History
Topic: W.H.Barnes
Replies: 10
Views: 18997

Re: W.H.Barnes

After work at the piano factory in Kentish Town some of us would go to an old building where we "modernised" old pianos for this old chap to sell on. Sometimes we even put new actions in I seem to remember. Seems like Dickens,looking back. No doubt several Barnes passed through our fingers...
by vernon
22 Jul 2012, 21:46
Forum: Piano History
Topic: W.H.Barnes
Replies: 10
Views: 18997

Re: W.H.Barnes

looks very much like a 20's piano, "modernised" in the 50's. Would need to see more pics. Likely to be overdamper
by vernon
20 Jul 2012, 09:40
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Rebushing of keys
Replies: 19
Views: 20378

Re: Rebushing of keys

A lot of people have a go at the diy. ,armed with string or elastic for tapes,elastoplast to fix broken shanks.
All sorts of old underwear can be adapted to the various bits of felts needed that's just some of the professionals!
It makes work for us tho.
by vernon
13 Jul 2012, 19:07
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: advice on a Steck baby grand
Replies: 5
Views: 7246

Re: advice on a Steck baby grand

If your tuner can't do that ask him to refer you to someone who can Stecks are good middle of the road English pianos and, as Colin says, it sounds like a regulation issue. If all else sounds ok it's down to that. Remember, tuning is a trade on it's own-- regulating, construction is a different depa...
by vernon
13 Jul 2012, 18:48
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Walter Villiers Luck Apollo Works
Replies: 5
Views: 8887

Re: Walter Villiers Luck Apollo Works

While you are at it, clean each reed with your best toothbrush and petrol after inserting a thin piece of plastic under the reed.
Suck it before re-insertion to ensure a good response and also.... no! I'll leave that there.
by vernon
13 Jul 2012, 18:45
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Walter Villiers Luck Apollo Works
Replies: 5
Views: 8887

Re: Walter Villiers Luck Apollo Works

I know I am showing my age but we used to do harmoniums in the old days. It's very simple to alter the pitch in the front room as follows; supply yourself with a reed hook. This is a steel rod resembling a crochet hook.( make one) Expose the bank/banks or reeds, generally the narrow panel along the ...
by vernon
12 Jul 2012, 20:08
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Rebushing of keys
Replies: 19
Views: 20378

Re: Rebushing of keys

now you're digging yourself a hole!
Now you've got to explain the unique qualities of bushing felt, the different thicknesses and the way the selvedge runs,

After that.......
by vernon
11 Jul 2012, 18:29
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Rebushing of keys
Replies: 19
Views: 20378

Re: Rebushing of keys

Just noticed that granpa's bushing springs are still in Heckschers catalogue
by vernon
11 Jul 2012, 09:37
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Kawai K2 heavy action
Replies: 16
Views: 22545

Re: Kawai K2 heavy action

It really is impossible tocover all aspects of regulation online and somewhere a technician must be consulted who will diagnose on the spot. Obviously the first call is to your dealer and if there is a technical rather than an environmental problem then Kawai themselves would want to know. I've neve...
by vernon
10 Jul 2012, 17:46
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Rebushing of keys
Replies: 19
Views: 20378

Re: Rebushing of keys

I used to have granpa's set of omega shaped steel bushing springs that were a universal fit. They mysteriously disappeared in some move or other.
Never seen anything like them since
by vernon
09 Jul 2012, 21:06
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Kawai K2 heavy action
Replies: 16
Views: 22545

Re: Kawai K2 heavy action

I'm surprised you find the K2 heavy. tHEIR TOUCH IS DELIGHTFUL.
However, go back to your dealer,tell him your observations and he should do you a good deal on another k2 or similar.
We are here to serve!
by vernon
06 Jul 2012, 22:54
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Brinsmead upright #11666
Replies: 7
Views: 8907

Re: Brinsmead upright #11666

Bill raises the spectre of upholstered stools. This is a concept that I can't quite grasp as I am increasingly slow on the uptake. I can fully comprehend adjustable stools, black stools even,walnut stools (?),noisy stools and even loose stools but rising smelly wooden stools conjures up a scenario i...
by vernon
06 Jul 2012, 19:25
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Brinsmead upright #11666
Replies: 7
Views: 8907

Re: Brinsmead upright #11666

I'm still pondering whether the the pong is caused by the stool? Stools can be rather noisome at times.

Seems a likely source to me.
You could have a cryptic crapper about.
by vernon
05 Jul 2012, 21:59
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Rebushing of keys
Replies: 19
Views: 20378

Re: Rebushing of keys

I'm about 90 years old and need a few bits re-bushed. Incidentally,Colin, you don't need to remove an upright keyframe to rebush the keys. This operation invites dislodging all the underframe cards with a serious key levelling job ensuing. Please ensure that you number all the keys before removal un...
by vernon
30 Jun 2012, 21:05
Forum: Piano Advice
Topic: Where can I buy a key blank to fit my 1890s Bluthner?
Replies: 7
Views: 9281

Re: Where can I buy a key blank to fit my 1890s Bluthner?

send me the lock and i'll make a key for you.
by vernon
25 Jun 2012, 20:10
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Universal Player Piano
Replies: 15
Views: 18467

Re: Universal Player Piano

I've just rung them--- no reply. Could be the ptarmigan have nested in their exchange. I'll keep trying. Shouldv'e taken some pics while I was there. A neighbour of theirs'( up the same mountain) has a queer five octave anonymous pretty piano. Suppose they would be described as sheep's pianos up the...
by vernon
25 Jun 2012, 19:05
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Universal Player Piano
Replies: 15
Views: 18467

Re: Universal Player Piano

Bill
It's up a mountain 100 miles away but I'll try and get some pics.
bw
by vernon
23 Jun 2012, 20:27
Forum: Piano History
Topic: Universal Player Piano
Replies: 15
Views: 18467

Re: Universal Player Piano

Bill I saw a "piano," supplied by Methven, recently, the like of which I have never seen. It is totally decrepit but odd. The wrest plank is under the keys (at the front) and the action is underneath though it is of normal height. The customer has bought a cheap starter piano from us and I...