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Lot 57 in the Piano Auction at Conway Hall next week is a "Mangeot & Freres A 7ft late-nineteenth century grand piano in a burr walnut case on scroll legs; this piano has a Steinway & Sons patent frame." The legs look sort of curvy. Are these the swan legs you were referring to?

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Thank you for pointing out this gem.

Nickthorp, I commend your idea of acquiring a restored Bluthner. Might I suggest that you visit Bluthner Pianos in Berkeley Square. They usually have a number of instruments which have been restored by Colin Leverett, in which the patent actions have been replaced. This would give you an opportunity...

Rosewood is lovely.

After 9 years, my Turmix room humidifier seems to have stopped working. I may therefore need to buy another urgently. I am confronted with a choice between different types of humidifier, and I am wondering if anyone can offer advice or experience. This article http://www.airandwatercentre.com/ultras...

30 years of knowledge from the best in the business,because it makes profit occasionally does not make it a good piano, complaints are common place with the brand we know are asked to repair the odd one from time to time.Baldwin,Kimball etc are awful but if they make you money suppose we should rea...

There is a very helpful organisation in the UK, "Friends of Square Pianos". You should contact them. You can easily find them with Google.

Ennjaydee, to come back to your question, I do not know a good hunidifier/dehumidifier combination. I suspect that like me, you would be better off with separate units. The dehumidifier is very good for hot humid summer weather, such as we have now. During the summer you would not need a humidifier....

I asked a similar question on Piano World recently. See this link.

http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/cgi-bin/u ... 22046.html

Bill, I am not quite sure what you meant by "The numbers are a shade the other way" - can you clarify? Re your example, I appreciate the complexity! Personally, I would place the date of the piano as being when the serial number is allocated. Presumably 1906 in this example. Just my view o...

I sent you a PM with details of a tech who seems good and is fairly near to you, I think.

Do let us know how it all works out!

And if you could post any photos of the piano, that would be very interesting.

Hooplescat, There are some people who love fine antique pianos, and others who don’t really appreciate them. I am definitely in the former category. So you know where I am coming from, I have an 1881 Bluthner grand, which has now been in the family for about 60 years. A few years ago I had it recond...

Since you have had no replies as yet, I thought I would respond. Although I certainly would not claim any expertise in piano prices, I do perhaps know a little more than zero! The Kaps sounds to be a lovely piano, and it is great that you are proposing to restore the original walnut. I don't know mu...

How interesting to have over 20 pre-1900's pianos!

Your Bluthner is just a shade younger than mine, which has the number 16189. I was advised by Bluthner that the date of my piano was 1881.

Good work, Grenache!

I would also vote for "Schwohl", though there may be another letter behind the mark. I think they may have been the shop that sold the piano. The address is given below, though it is largely unreadable: "...okerstr." (i.e. ...okerstrasse). Funnily enough, I have cousins named Ber...

Since you live in Devon, why not try contacting Tim Danemann Pianos in Buckfastleigh? (Tel: 01364 642828, info@danemannpianos.co.uk). Tim Danemann is of the Danemann family, and used to work in the factory in Islington. He runs a high quality piano restoration and repair service. He could hardly be ...

abc1337, did you see the recent thread on recommendations for a humidifer?

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-forums/piano5089.html

Have been following developments with interest. Wish you well with the project. Must say though that the piano would look so much better with original-style legs!

I bought the humidifer in about 2000, the models are probably different now. I can't remember the cost exactly but I think it was about 250 pounds. I had just spent several thousand on the piano, so reckoned it was worth that to keep it in good condition. I bought the unit at the Air Improvement Cen...

When I had my piano reconditioned a few years ago, the restorer recommended a room humidifier. I purchased a Turmix 701 steam humidifier, and it has given excellent service ever since. It works by gently evaporating water from a reservoir, which holds about 7 litres. Even during frosty weather in wi...