Tuning lever for old Broadwood and Sons

[The_Colonel]

Greetings,
I am hoping you might be able to help me. I own a mid to late 1800s John Broadwood 7ft Boudoir Grand with original pins. One thing I am in desperate need of is a tuning lever that will fit the pins. Most modern levers that I have found are sloppy and might be damaging the pins during a tuning.

Also, I am seeking information on the strings. What they might be made of and if it is at all possible to find strings of the same composition for a re stringing . Even at this old age the original strings (tuned down at least a full step) sound superior to any American piano I have heard. That is one reason I am reluctant to re pin.

[PianoGuy]

You may not be able to re-pin it.

Does it have a brown painted frame (rather than the usual gold) and a green square label with "Notice to Tuners" printed on it located on the bass-end corner of the soundboard at the blunt end? If so, the pins are actually screw-threaded into the plate. Furthermore, the threads are so inaccurately tapped (probably individually by hand) that often the pins only fit snugly into their original hole!

I'm assuming also that the offending pins are rectangular rather than square ended? If so, you're unlikely ever to find a lever with a good fit. I have a client with such a Broadwood who owns a contemporary lever with no wear which fits his piano so beautifully, neither my own antique lever nor my modern repro lever fits half as well. Needless to say he won't sell it, and I'm forced to tune all other antique pianos with a nasty degree of lever slop!

Strings of correct steel composition as well as accurate repros of the bass strings (which sometimes have a felt collar over the bridge) may still be obtainable from Early Keyboard Agency +44 (0)1491 839609.

[The_Colonel]

I appreciate your reply - since my post I had an "expert" on antique pianos in and he tried hammering on the pins before I could explain your assessment of screw threaded pins. The piano is as you describe with the brown painted frame and green label.
Is it an inferior model? I'll guess there is nothing I can do save a complete restore?
Do you have any tricks to impart?

[Barrie Heaton]

You can back the pins out and use PTF tape or a few drops of supper glue on the pins threads and swab the hole as well let it dry and turn them in you will fined they become nice and firm.

Stainless steel piano wire is very low in carbon like old strings

Barrie,

[Brumtuner]

"a few drops of supper glue"

Curry paste?

[PianoGuy]

I appreciate your reply - since my post I had an "expert" on antique pianos in and he tried hammering on the pins before I could explain your assessment of screw threaded pins. The piano is as you describe with the brown painted frame and green label.
Is it an inferior model? I'll guess there is nothing I can do save a complete restore?
Do you have any tricks to impart?

Your expert wasn't then?!

It's not exactly an inferior model, but it's very very old. Even when restored it won't sound much like a modern piano. but that's not why people who love them do so. Personally I think they're more trouble than they're worth, and have little affection for them unless they have a documented provenance or architecturally interesting casework. The cost of a proper restoration would be far more than final value, since as well as the odd pin system it'll likely have vellum hinges on the dampers and a unique-to-Broadwood action.

There may be many fans on the 'Piano History' section of the forum.

[Bill Kibby]

As for the tuning, as I just said on another posting, a T-hammer is much more controllable in an old banger with loose pins.

[vernon]

Probably someone has tried to knock in the pins with the noted results.
PTFE is a good idea.
There is a label under the lid warning against tapping in. Perhaps it is missing.
I tune two of these, seperated by 100 miles with a difference of 10 in the serial numbers. Pain in the neck.
Loch Ness Pianos
Vernon