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Pianomate

Already have but he's a bit quiet and has a good stock of pianos needing work for the moment.

Pianomate

The polish is extremely light and is buffed off afterwards. It seals the surface and does not dry sticky. I know people who use it on other intruments including stringed instruments and are very happy.

Pianomate

Excellent product for ivory is Renaissance wax polish
http://www.picreator.co.uk/articles/3_r ... ce_wax.htm

Pianomate

Hi all you may remember that I was discussing an August Forster piano I was going to restore, anyway my situation now dictates that regretfully I am going to have to offload it. Therefore its going begging as an abandoned project. I have had a good crack at the casework but that is as far as I have ...

Pianomate

I'm sure he eventually realised it was an impossible task and his time would be better spent elsewhere.

Pianomate

For £600 someone would be expecting your piano to be in good condition and good playing order, probably having being overhauled not too long ago. Get it tuned and regulated if you want to stand any chance of selling it, and ask the tuners opinion of market value or you could be wasting your time. Re...

Pianomate

If it's a shortish cased "compact" piano with a sloping front then it is going to play quite differently to a full size and height upright if you have been used to one of those.

Pianomate

Please read the note at the top of the page. Nobody can give an estimate for it without inspecting any more than someone can give an estimate for a second hand car without seeing it.

Pianomate

Its a trivial repair but make sure your tuner knows before he turns up to give him chance to source a replacement.

Pianomate

I know it's probably a bit late now but I have a technique for sticking back bubbled veneer. Dampen the area to soften it, and make a small slit in the middle along the grain. Inject a good wood glue into the cavity with a syringe and needle and rub the blister flat with a rubber roller until the ve...

Pianomate

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STEINWAY-Grand-c- ... eyboard_RL

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bechstein-Boudoir ... eyboard_RL

Check out his second hand car listings, they are just as whacky.

Pianomate

Note the art deco motif borders around the panels of the top board. The case however suggests a bit of Arts and Crafts style with German gothic ornamentation. This would suggest early 1900s.

Pianomate

August Forster pianos are extremely well made and often underrated. They are quite sought after and if it is in good order, you are likely to have a sound investment there. The casework suggests the period that Forster have confirmed. Shortly after German unification in 1871, there was an artistic m...

Pianomate

The removal of chimney breasts could be a serious issue and affect your house as well. Check with your local authority Building Control Dept.

Pianomate

If it's a standard lever lock I can produce replacement keys.

Pianomate

I have heard of them but I think they mainly cater for the Czech home market.

Pianomate

Did you get my PM?

Thanks.

Pianomate

If your only problem is that it is getting soft it is probably overdue for voicing (assuming it was last done 20 years ago as you describe) which is just a routine maintenance task whereby the hammers are flattened and hardened again.

Pianomate

Thanks. Been very busy last few days. Will look for my calipers and check, then let you know tomorrow.

Thanks

Pianomate

All those with cheaper finishes, chipboard cases etc will not last as most will in time become scruffy. I can see the European manufacturers further consolidating and becoming more like Broadwood and August Forster etc is today, concentraring on small numbers of high end and custom built instruments...

Pianomate

I can see a niche market for custom made pianos like the Broadwoods but sad to say in the mass market everything is going to come from the far East. In 50 years time I expect that acoustic pianos will account for a tiny minority of keyboards with almost everything going digital. As far Eastern econo...

Pianomate

Depends on the condition both inside and out. Nobody can give you any idea whatsoever without a physical inspection any more than if you had asked "what's a Ford Modeo worth?"

Pianomate

There is a 1920s Collard catalogue on fleabay at the moment.

Pianomate

Is there anything written inside it or on the frame?

Pianomate

My guess is it dates from teens to early 20s

Pianomate

You will probably get more help on one of the US piano sites as few US pianos were imported into the UK.

Pianomate

Where have all the Germans gone? (Long time passing)

I think our friend - the Twallock - on Ebay may have them all and be trying to confuse people into thinking they are all Steinways.

Pianomate

Heavy curtains, carpets and soft furnishings can all help.

Pianomate

Our friend is at it agan and even he has outdone himself this time: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GRAND-PIANO-WILLIAM-STEINWAY-CELEBRITY-UNEXPECTED-KISS_W0QQitemZ290401057650QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL?hash=item439d407b72 My dog is lonely. I really have never chosen flying lessons to her ...

Pianomate

Can you tell me the width (accurate) and length of the white keytop front sections, and the length of the back section. I have a keyboard which needs some spares. Also, how many white keys are there? If the keytops are ivory they will have a grain if you look closely. Any chance of a close up of one...

Pianomate

Could be a number of things - could be the keys have twisted slightly in the keybed due to moisture (tuner can usually fix this fairly quickly), could be dirt, slight rust on the pins under the keys, misalignment, May be obvious if you can get the action out safely. Whatever you do, never use oils o...

Pianomate

Chatting to a tech today, he says he swears by a "Cramer Bath Rubber" for cleaning surface rust on grotty strings. They are sold to clean stains of enamel baths and you can get them from plumbers merchants.

Pianomate

The piano was probably an essential part of the local shindig!

Pianomate

See PM

Pianomate

Looks like it has had the hammers refelted fairly recently. Something appears to be misaligned as the hammers have not all returned to the rest position. The brackets at the front would have been for brass sconces, removed when houses had electric lights fitted. With the style of case with the marqu...

Pianomate

Can you post a pic of the case?

These German instruments were usually well built and of good robust quality.

Pianomate

Perhaps you can find an Austrian piano enthusiasts forum where they may be able to help more.

Pianomate

I would definitely get a second opinion on the restringing once you have it.

Pianomate

Ask the guy who has looked after the Brinsmead.

A basic check over would be a bit less than the cost of a tune.

Depends on the model as well as the make. All makes had budget through to deluxe models.

Pianomate

Do you have any pictures?

The 1936 label may just be a dealer's label from when it has been resold, or even when it has been overhauled.

Pianomate

Get hold of the tuner of the Brinsmead and ask him about it as he will be familiar with it. You need to get a tech to have a look as the other as it's like buying a car - you've got to see them to know. Age is irrelevant and both are good makes - it depends on which model it is, whether it's been lo...

Pianomate

The sheet music stand will probably be useful to someone as the fretwork sometimes gets damaged.

Pianomate

If you know how to remove the far left hand key, you will usually find a date written on the side of it.

Pianomate

You can get any parts you need from Heckscher, the link is at the left hand side of thispage under "Piano Parts".

Pianomate

Welmar are no longer in existence so you would have to track down any company which may have bought them out for any info, but it is unlikely you will have much success. I'm sure its easier to find the size using a tape measure! Nobody can give an estimate of price without physically inspecting it a...

Pianomate

Playing the 1 string banjo is actually played on an organ and not a banjo!

I'm sure Einaudi must be familiar with the technique

Pianomate

I'm sure what was on the beach was just a prop.

So Bert Weedon played on string on the guitar - There must be someone on here who is equally adept at playing the one string banjo?

Pianomate

If you had to move an Einaudi book to tune a piano you might as well only tune about 10 strings as they won't be using the rest!

Pianomate

Usual off-white I would chose is BS 10B15 often referred to as Gardenia and used for interior decor. Fairly neutral colour. This is off the BS4800 colour specifications and pretty universal for an off-white. I wouldn't use polyeurathene! Polyester finish much better. Whatever finish you use must be ...

Pianomate

Seems like you're putting the cart before the horse - you need to fix the veneer BEFORE the piano is lacquered. You wouldn't respray a car before fixing the dents?

Could be just about anything, but common choices were mahogany, rosewood and walnut. A furniture restorer will be able to recognise it.

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