Tuner Tradition/History

[Trishymouse]

I grew up learning to play on a 1906 Bush & Gerts piano. Under the top door (it was an upright) all the piano tuners that had ever tuned it had signed their name and the date they had tuned it in pencil. Is this a tradition among all tuners? I have tried to research this online but could find nothing. Other than the obvious reasons, I'd like to find out more about why they did this, and if tuners still do it...THANKS!

[Bill Kibby]

No, all tuners do not do it, I would suggest it is the ones with an interest in history. Why? It's simply a record of what was done and when, it becomes a part of the history of the individual piano, and can also provide clues as to when the piano was made, by the first tuning dates. See
http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/datem ... ianos.html

[Trishymouse]

Thank you, Bill. I appreciate the information very much!

[Gill the Piano]

I do make a brief mention of this in my MA somewhere on this page; in fact it was this practice that triggered the whole thesis! (Under 'Piano History' at the lefthand side of this page, 'A History of Piano Tuning').

[Trishymouse]

Thanks for pointing out that article. I appreciate it!