Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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Most tuners don't like tuning them especially in the USA where they use a muting strip.
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- Barrie Heaton
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I would agree most of the back actions ones even paraffin is a waste of money and the guy who designed them must have hated tuners.Bill Kibby MIMIT wrote:I think Barrie missed the point that many of the 1934-style back-action minis are now untuneable wrecks, with tuning pins which cannot be obtained or replaced. Valuation in that situation is a gallon of paraffin and a box of matches!
However, it was the back action I was taking about and they do fetch that sort of price in the north of England Small terraced houses (Coronation Street)
Now the 2 Royal models tend to fetch more money, I have 2 on my round with the 45 degree action in the base a pig to work on when you take the action out. There is one for sale in a shop in Blackburn and that will probably end up on my round
BTW you can get tuning pins for back action, I have used the metal packing sleeves to good effect. Not that I would wish to restring one again that was in the 80s.
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
There's no "Royal Model". There were various different models, but #3963 may the most troublesome - the original 1934 type with the wrestpins inside a flap under the front of the keyboard, because you can't "sleeve" these easily, they go all the way through to the back, where the strings are. Something like Pintite may be the answer. However, the reference to the princesses suggests a later, more conventional piano.
Some later models of the fifties were called "Miniroyal", and the Miniroyal Model 90 was a very different type introduced in 1969, one of my favourite low uprights, with the distinctive hood that opens up the whole front, and reflects the sound towards the pianist or tuner. Not much fun working on the action though!
I saw one sell for 52 pounds, while another similar one fetched 400.
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- MarkGoodwinPianos
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
The page below may be of interest as it details to the 2 main types of eavestaff minipiano. They are 2 very different pianos.
Eavestaff MiniPiano
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
email markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com with any Yamaha, Kawai, Bechstein or Steinway questions

Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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- Colin Nicholson
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
Good to hear about your piano, and you were one of the lucky ones - it works fine!
In case you are interested, I restored a 1930's Eavestaff Mini piano a few years ago for a customer - proper Art Decor, and with fluted chrome 240 volt electric candle bulbs.... mmm, not sure what Health & Safety would say these days!!
The piano was completely ridden with moths, everything eaten away inside, and the customer wanted it "as new" ...... so here we are....
Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
what are the metal bars for underneath the bulbs do you think?
email markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com with any Yamaha, Kawai, Bechstein or Steinway questions

- Colin Nicholson
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
http://www.pianotime1964.com
Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen
- Colin Nicholson
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
Here is the rear of the piano, before & after. As you can see, hammer felt munched away (top left) - and virtually nothing left inside the mechanism, except some small piles of dusty felt.... and moth POO !!
Not sure if anyone is aware of this.... but the whole action & keyboard tips right over to gain access to the strings - for the muting strip. Various screws have to be removed from the centre key rail, and the pivot bolts at the bottom of the action need to be loosened slightly .... BUT NOT REMOVED!!.... also note the stringing & action is back to front / bass strings on the right! .... and re-strung anti-clockwise. The original wrest pins were fine - very expensive for a new set, just the odd one needed some fettling.
Anyone wanting one restoring.... FORGET IT!!....
Colin Nicholson Dip. Mus. CMIT CLCM PTLLS
Piano tuning & repairs. Full UK restoration service
http://www.aatuners.com
Tuition ~ Accompaniment ~ Weddings
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- MarkGoodwinPianos
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
email markgoodwinpianos@gmail.com with any Yamaha, Kawai, Bechstein or Steinway questions

Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
Piano is located in Leigh on Sea essex.
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Re: Eavestaff Pianette "Minipiano"
My experience of these is that although they can fetch a few hundred pounds, they often raise very little, especially if the tuning pins are not holding, and I have one that was given to me for nothing for this reason.
Leigh-on-sea? I wonder if I ever tuned it when I lived over that way?
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