Search found 3559 matches
- by Barrie Heaton
- 30 Jul 2022, 09:01
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: non-traditional materials for piano keys
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2476
Re: non-traditional materials for piano keys
It seems that around 1700 ivory was used for key covering at times. Many and varied materials have been used for this purpose, including bone, mother-of-pearl, porcelain, tortoise-shell, silver, boxwood, cedar, ebony, pear and other rare and polished woods. At times the fronts of the naturals were b...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 15 Jun 2022, 19:18
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Kawai-K3TX
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2550
Re: Kawai-K3TX
Have two clients who have the K3TX both of them absolutely love them, one does a lot of recording so needs the midi in and out, second, she found the touch a bit offputting at first, but she's now got used to it. As a comparison, you do need to try the K3 and the tx as the touch is different because...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 13 Jun 2022, 18:38
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Let-off regulation questions
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2441
Re: Let-off regulation questions
Long time since I've had a cold and a head cold that I had to cancel today's tunings also, tomorrow's tunings. Unfortunately, I've got to prep a piano on Wednesday morning for a concert in Preston.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 13 Jun 2022, 12:59
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Let-off regulation questions
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2441
Re: Let-off regulation questions
This is what you need to look at https://www.fletcher-newman.co.uk/index.php?l=product_detail&p=258 Before you do the set-off, you should make sure that there is no lost motion, the depth of touch is correct at 9.5mm but as this is an old piano 10mm will work better. Unless you going to regulate...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 10 Jun 2022, 20:41
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3528
Re: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
"You can now play the major triad G, C, E in the middle of the piano. You may notice how horrible it is - a revelation that for many is a lifetime first. Indeed people with a good musical ear who have never tried to tune a piano before may feel that they must have gone wrong because it sounds ...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 10 Jun 2022, 18:18
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Broadwood barless grand
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2719
Re: Broadwood barless grand
The while since I've worked on one, but if I remember rightly the key blocks are actually stuck to the key bed the whole thing comes out.
The key slip drops down allowing you to remove the keybed
Barrie
The key slip drops down allowing you to remove the keybed
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 04 Jun 2022, 09:57
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3528
Re: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
Not bad for your first attempt but it is out. Keep practising a better electronic tuning device would help you immensely.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 03 Jun 2022, 13:46
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3528
Re: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
But anyway, I have a chart showing frequencies for all notes for equal temperament, and today I'm going to try tuning the mid range to those frequencies using the app, just out of curiosity. If that doesn't sound good, I'll try doing it by counting beats. Tuning to theoretical pictures doesn't work...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 02 Jun 2022, 08:43
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Worth of a Steinway & Sons Grand Piano?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3036
Re: Worth of a Steinway & Sons Grand Piano?
You have no trouble selling it. Get the serial number and give Steinways a ring in London they will give you a ballpark figure then add 25%
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 01 Jun 2022, 18:26
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: B. Squire baby grand
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2357
Re: B. Squire baby grand
All dealers have to abide by trading standards and the piano has to be fit for its purpose. Fit for purpose means to be tuned to concert pitch and hold its tune for a reasonable period of time.
As to the tuner to seeing the piano the is normally only done on private sales.
Barrie
As to the tuner to seeing the piano the is normally only done on private sales.
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 01 Jun 2022, 08:59
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: B. Squire baby grand
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2357
Re: B. Squire baby grand
B. Squire, were not great Pianos when they were made, they have a single escapement playing mechanism so no advantage over an upright.
You need to take the tuner to look at secondhand pianos specially Pianos made in the 30s onwards as they can become a bit of a money pit.
Barrie
You need to take the tuner to look at secondhand pianos specially Pianos made in the 30s onwards as they can become a bit of a money pit.
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 01 Jun 2022, 08:53
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
- Replies: 8
- Views: 3528
Re: My piano tuning nightmare has begun.
I did a first tuning using the free PianoMeter app. I have some questions about that. Firstly, the app is said to work out the correct "stretch" by recording every note on the (slightly out of tune) piano. I don't understand how that works, with the piano being out of tune when the record...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 26 Apr 2022, 15:05
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Advice and information
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2615
Re: Advice and information
When it comes to secondhand pianos names are useless it's all depending on how the piano is being looked after and how much it's been played. I would contact the seller and find out who last tuned it call them see what they have to say. I'll get a local technician to nip round and look at it. Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 17 Apr 2022, 09:59
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Humphreys London piano
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1921
- by Barrie Heaton
- 17 Apr 2022, 09:53
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Camp & Co. History
- Replies: 19
- Views: 23695
Re: Camp & Co. History
My wife just inherited a Camp & Company upright piano with the serial number 4969. The piano tuner said it was from the '20's. We hare having the insides restored so it is playable. The outside is in fair condition. We were thinking of just cleaning and polishing it. Is the date correct? What i...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 17 Apr 2022, 09:45
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Camp & Co. History
- Replies: 19
- Views: 23695
Re: Camp & Co. History
14260 Dates the piano between 1885 and 1890Bgcarter81 wrote: ↑17 Apr 2022, 00:47 My father in law has a Camp &Company upright. Just as other people on this thread, can’t find info. Serial number is not on piano. #14260 is under the top lid. # 406 is down in the piano.
- by Barrie Heaton
- 09 Apr 2022, 16:55
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Legion of honor Brinsmead Piano
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2127
Re: John Brinsmead Piano 86130
S/N 86130 is c1959 the company was taken over by Kemble's in 1967 a The Kemble name is now owned by Yamaha. As to the badge probably one of the awards they won. you could ask Bill at https://www.pianohistory.info/ or send him a PM from this site or buy the Book 5 London piano Makers https://www.pian...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 09 Apr 2022, 08:58
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Brooklyn Piano, Paterson, Sons & Co Ltd, Edinburgh
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2489
Re: Brooklyn Piano, Paterson, Sons & Co Ltd, Edinburgh
The piano will be worth very little as to its age there is very little information about that make in the books see what has been posted in the past.
https://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-foru ... s=Brooklyn
https://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-foru ... s=Brooklyn
- by Barrie Heaton
- 05 Apr 2022, 07:37
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: F Rubinstein (Berlin) upright mechanism question
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2411
Re: F Rubinstein (Berlin) upright mechanism question
Unscrew it and put some washers behind it, then engage it will push the stack closer to the strings.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 04 Apr 2022, 19:27
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: F Rubinstein (Berlin) upright mechanism question
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2411
Re: F Rubinstein (Berlin) upright mechanism question
it's an over damper and the action has probably moved during the move so just needs to be seated but they are notoriously rubbish at dumping. When they are working at their best.
Wait a few weeks and get it tuned on your tuna will sort it out two minute job for them.
Barrie
Wait a few weeks and get it tuned on your tuna will sort it out two minute job for them.
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 04 Apr 2022, 19:22
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: F. Rubinstein & Co. what age is my piano?
- Replies: 11
- Views: 19383
Re: F. Rubinstein & Co. what age is my piano?
The correct term is overdamped however in the United States a lot of tuners: call them birdcage Pianos.
As for the pedals not working, that's more likely that the pedals themselves just need adjusting.
Barrie
As for the pedals not working, that's more likely that the pedals themselves just need adjusting.
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 22 Mar 2022, 20:11
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Kastner & Co Autopiano
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2517
Re: Kastner & Co Autopiano
Was made between c1917 to 1921 and are incredibly expensive to restore I would go to http://www.pianola.co.uk and ask there
BTW the make is Ernest Kaps, the Kastner & Co is the Player mechanism.
Barrie
BTW the make is Ernest Kaps, the Kastner & Co is the Player mechanism.
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 21 Mar 2022, 17:13
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Wilh Steinmann upright
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4795
Re: Wilh Steinmann upright
Looks a lot better now get it tuned and enjoy the piano.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 17 Mar 2022, 01:23
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Wilh Steinmann upright
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4795
Re: Wilh Steinmann upright
with the veneer contact adhesive. But in this case, leave it a little bit wet so you can slide it in place then add pressure using masking tape. You won't make a perfect join you may have to get somebody who can do polyester repairs to fix the cracks. As to its age, it could be 1989 using the Zimmer...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 16 Mar 2022, 08:43
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Wilh Steinmann upright
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4795
Re: Wilh Steinmann upright
My UK Google search using Wilh Steinmann did identify a number of stores that had sold these pianos. One suggested they were made at the Zimmermann factory in Leipzig. However are you sure it was made in Germany ? While the logo shape on the Steinmann does look like Zimmerman stile. From 1995 Zimme...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 16 Mar 2022, 08:34
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Wilh Steinmann upright
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4795
Re: Wilh Steinmann upright
Wilh Steinmann Est c1965
The last entry in the Atlas was for 1976 sn 41500
Pianos were made by VEB Mobelkombinat Eisenbergi
Barrie
The last entry in the Atlas was for 1976 sn 41500
Pianos were made by VEB Mobelkombinat Eisenbergi
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 08 Mar 2022, 19:50
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Job LECTURER - PIANO TUNING & RESTORATION J
- Replies: 0
- Views: 4120
Job LECTURER - PIANO TUNING & RESTORATION J
Job titleLECTURER - PIANO TUNING & RESTORATION Job referenceLC0299P Date posted07/03/2022 Application closing date21/03/2022 LocationNewark SalaryEarnings up to £33,923 pro rata per annum, with potential earnings up to *£35,993 pro rata per annum *subject to qualification criteria PackageBlank C...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 01 Mar 2022, 23:45
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Upright piano and underfloor heating - how can I protect the piano?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5081
Re: Upright piano and underfloor heating - how can I protect the piano?
Reinforced Insulation Membrane - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aluminium-Vapour-Barrier-Fiberglass-Reinforced/dp/B08JGX8X81/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?adgrpid=52721007243&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIloGpsP6l9gIVTdPtCh1W_w8yEAAYAiAAEgKCy_D_BwE&hvadid=259022791344&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1006530&hvnetw=g&hvqmt...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 28 Feb 2022, 01:08
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Upright piano and underfloor heating - how can I protect the piano?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5081
Re: Upright piano and underfloor heating - how can I protect the piano?
The idea of the carpet the specially designed ones or the home-made one is to reflect heat back down, efficiency all depends on the size of the room if it's a very big room then the carpet will work if it's a small room sadly the carpets don't work well and you need a lifesaver. Woodwind and violins...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 27 Feb 2022, 12:20
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Upright piano and underfloor heating - how can I protect the piano?
- Replies: 14
- Views: 5081
Re: Upright piano and underfloor heating - how can I protect the piano?
The carpets are helpful, but you can make your own from an ordinary carpet with insulated reflective material underneath that will work just as effective. However, I would strongly recommend having a lifesaver fitted; all the clients I have who have had a carpet I've ended up putting in a lifesaver ...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 23 Jan 2022, 10:01
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: is my old piano worth restoring ?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3389
Re: is my old piano worth restoring ?
If you're on a limited budget and the playing mechanism is not too bad spend some money there. A chemical solution can be used for the loose tuning pins, it's not as good as restringing but it works. The solution is a special type of superglue it's highly viscous and quite strong however you may nee...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 22 Jan 2022, 17:32
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: is my old piano worth restoring ?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 3389
Re: is my old piano worth restoring ?
As a rule of thumb, the restoration will be more than the value of a new piano, You are looking at three phases the case, the play mechanism, the strung back assembly. Complete restoration, of all three depending on who does it, will cost you anything from 5,000 to £12,000 for an old upright. As the...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 17 Jan 2022, 23:01
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Church piano
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2747
Re: Church piano
To work efficiently, you need it turned on all the time 24 seven in the winter months, particularly in the church.
Also, the piano tuner may need to ease the keys to the church's environment. Modern pianos are designed for central heating and don't do well in damp places.
barrie
Also, the piano tuner may need to ease the keys to the church's environment. Modern pianos are designed for central heating and don't do well in damp places.
barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 16 Jan 2022, 19:23
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Church piano
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2747
Re: Church piano
It's not a humidifier it's a dehumidifier you need. This is the best one you can get because it has a control unit and won't overheat the piano you need to leave it plugged in all the time. https://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-accessories-shop/piano/damp-chaser-heater-38-watt-with-control-unit-94.html...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 16 Jan 2022, 10:25
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Rescued piano, case restoring, and storage
- Replies: 1
- Views: 2175
Re: Rescued piano, case restoring, and storage
There are very few companies that will store a Grand Pianos on their feet, if it's more than a year then it can be a problem, the pressure on the veneer on the bass end of the piano and the hammers may move offline from the strings because of the downward force of gravity. To the skipping notes that...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 29 Dec 2021, 17:36
- Forum: Piano History
- Topic: Research for book- JB Cramer ship's piano
- Replies: 5
- Views: 2762
Re: Research for book- JB Cramer ship's piano
It's more like rosewood, hard to tell with those white scratches
- by Barrie Heaton
- 28 Dec 2021, 17:11
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Bosendorfer advice
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2706
Re: Bosendorfer advice
If you like period style Piano turned legs and anything but black Blüthner make a modern version may have some secondhand ones in your budget..
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 27 Dec 2021, 11:44
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Bosendorfer advice
- Replies: 3
- Views: 2706
Re: Bosendorfer advice
She has nice turned legs, it is about circa 1850-ish also it will have the old Bosendorfer action. Well, the owner is offering you €100 to take it away that's how I would look at that piano. It's a potential Moneypit unless you're a collector, happy to spend a lot of money on it. Not a piano for a s...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 20 Dec 2021, 22:34
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: SCHEIDMAYER und SOHNE KEYS
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2798
Re: SCHEIDMAYER und SOHNE KEYS
3% Little and often it will soak into all the cracks and bleach them white but don't use a lot just a little each time.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 19 Dec 2021, 00:09
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: SCHEIDMAYER und SOHNE KEYS
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2798
Re: SCHEIDMAYER und SOHNE KEYS
They look like Bakelite to me hydrogen peroxide little and often should make them white again.
- by Barrie Heaton
- 12 Nov 2021, 17:22
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Buying used Samick upright
- Replies: 2
- Views: 3034
Re: Buying used Samick upright
For the smoke. You can put a very strong air freshener in the bottom of the piano and change it after a week for another very strong one that will get rid of the smell. They are quite a bright piano but when well-regulated play very nicely, find out from the client when it was last tuned and do they...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 05 Nov 2021, 23:28
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Newbie question: which piano to choose?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7629
Re: Newbie question: which piano to choose?
It all depends on what you define as an investment I was with clients the other day she bought a mahogany U3 for 3K in the 1980s and has sold it for 4.5K has had 30 years of use out of it I tuned the new grand.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 26 Oct 2021, 23:45
- Forum: Idle Chitchat
- Topic: FT article on old Upright Piano
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4847
Re: FT article on old Upright Piano
To Moni_now, Someone just tuning your piano would not ruin it. Unless they broke a lot of parts . Some Pianos are just too old to bring back without major rebuilding. Some would argue that rebuilding your piano the way you are planning the piano would not be the same as the original. There are a few...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 26 Oct 2021, 23:39
- Forum: Idle Chitchat
- Topic: FT article on old Upright Piano
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4847
Re: FT article on old Upright Piano
to Hugh Bailey
Most tuners in the olden days were trained at the factory and went on block release to college.
Read this by Gill Green MA
https://www.piano-tuners.org/history/pi ... story.html
Most tuners in the olden days were trained at the factory and went on block release to college.
Read this by Gill Green MA
https://www.piano-tuners.org/history/pi ... story.html
- by Barrie Heaton
- 11 Oct 2021, 08:27
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Newbie question: which piano to choose?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 7629
Re: Newbie question: which piano to choose?
While I would agree you're not always sure who is going to be playing the piano more after a few months the duster or the children. Having said that, buying a newish U1 is a good long-term investment as they do tend to keep the value. Children do go back to it later on, if it's there in the corner o...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 10 Oct 2021, 08:47
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: New piano advice
- Replies: 6
- Views: 4926
Re: New piano advice
Nice one, now don't forget you need to have it tuned at least four weeks after it's been installed in your house. Then, tune it in three months and four months then every six months until the piano settles down. It's very important that the piano is tuned at least three times in its first year that ...
- by Barrie Heaton
- 05 Oct 2021, 19:27
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Identifying kemble piano
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2786
Re: Identifying kemble piano
The serial number will tell us the date of manufacture but not the model
We may be able to tell you with a photo of the front and side.
Barrie
We may be able to tell you with a photo of the front and side.
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 30 Sep 2021, 17:46
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Practice rooms in Merseyside
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4972
Re: Practice rooms in Merseyside
Salvation Army in Liverpool have a grand piano and they do rent out the room for individuals or groups .
- by Barrie Heaton
- 28 Sep 2021, 14:53
- Forum: Learning & Teaching Piano
- Topic: Practice rooms in Merseyside
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4972
Re: Practice rooms in Merseyside
Salvation Army in Liverpool has a piano not sure what it is but I do know they have one.
Barrie
Barrie
- by Barrie Heaton
- 26 Sep 2021, 19:24
- Forum: Piano Advice
- Topic: Dehumidifier
- Replies: 2
- Views: 3060
Re: Dehumidifier
I use an Ebac dehumidifier have one in my workshop been running 24/7 for the last 5 years had one before that lasted for 15 years Would strongly recommend not putting it too close to the piano put it closer to the kitchen. Having it too close to the piano code and will dry out the soundboard first. ...
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