1930(ish) John Broadwood Upright

Akki007 · Post by **Akki007** » 30 Oct 2007, 17:07

Hi all, new here!

I've just purchased a John Broadwood upright, the serial number suggests 1930ish. I'm moving over from guitar to piano so am a complete newbie. I bit the bullet and bought second hand from a respected dealer. I paid £250 delivered and have no idea if thats good or not but it sounds fantastic which is my main concern, after all, it's a piano not a coffee table.

Anyway, I have a couple of questions...

1. Where do I look to find if there is a label saying "Collen" on the frame?

2. Can I use full fat milk to clean the ivory?

3. Was I ripped off?!

I will post some pictures later to give you an idea.

Thanks!!

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 30 Oct 2007, 18:14

Akki007 wrote:
Anyway, I have a couple of questions...

1. Where do I look to find if there is a label saying "Collen" on the frame?

Behind the bass strings or in the triangular space above the overstringing point. It's a small rectangular label with patent numbers (and don't you wish it hadn't been?) printed directly onto the frame.

Akki007 wrote:2. Can I use full fat milk to clean the ivory?

If you like, yes.

"Will it help?"

No.

Akki007 wrote:3. Was I ripped off?!

Probably not........

Akki007 · Post by **Akki007** » 30 Oct 2007, 19:26

Thanks for the response. I found the printed label. It does infact say collen-broadwood.

what does this mean for my lovely new piano??

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 30 Oct 2007, 19:33

Akki007 wrote:Thanks for the response. I found the printed label. It does infact say collen-broadwood.

what does this mean for my lovely new piano??

It means it's built like a tank.

But

It's as heavy as a tank
It looks like a tank
And sounds like a tank.

Reinforce your floorboards and wait for the grumbles from the tuner.

Akki007 · Post by **Akki007** » 30 Oct 2007, 20:16

hmm, ok then. I really like the sound though. It's got really nice mids and a lovely warm tone. Ah well, it's all a taste issue I suppose.

Really my main concern is whether or not £250 was too steep? £150 if you take off the £100 delivery.

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 30 Oct 2007, 20:24

If it works, can be tuned and you like it, you've got a bargain.

Akki007 · Post by **Akki007** » 30 Oct 2007, 20:33

PianoGuy wrote:If it works, can be tuned and you like it, you've got a bargain.

Excellent. I don't suppose there are any piano tuners on here from the north west (Stockport/manchester) are there?

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 30 Oct 2007, 21:53

Try

Martin Locke MABPT,Dip CTB,MIMIT,MPTA,
14 Woodside,
Heaton Mersey,
Stocckport SK4 2DW
Tel: 01614 426288

Barrie

Akki007 · Post by **Akki007** » 30 Oct 2007, 22:01

Thanks, he appears to live in walking distance too!

Loving my first piano by the way, can't stay off it, reminds me of when I got my first guitar. Just need some lessons now!

PianoGuy · Post by **PianoGuy** » 30 Oct 2007, 22:37

Collen-Broadwoods have their quirks, but at that price who cares! A half-decent old '30s piano like that is the ideal starter piano. Cheap, robust, cheerful and beats a digital hands down as it's far more tactile. What's more it'll serve the next user well and the one after that, so welcome to zero depreciation! Just make sure you don't cook it next to a radiator or heater.

Beware though! Once you get into playing a real piano, you'll soon hanker after a spanking new one like a U1 or U3......

WonkyRuler · Post by **WonkyRuler** » 15 May 2008, 12:12

Hi there!

I've just purchased a Collen-Broadwoods after having a pretty basic digital starter piano so quite excited on that front, and hope to be able to get into the full swing of things now. I cant find the label on mine, is it always in the same location or would it be somewhere else?

Mine was bought second hand so it couldave been removed?

Thanks

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1930(ish) John Broadwood Upright

1930(ish) John Broadwood Upright

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