A.Mittag?? Berlin, (Burr Walnut)

[priapusjones]

Hi, I've recently aquired an old piano, And I cant find any information about it, and would love to know more. I don't have a home for it, but will find one if it's worth keeping/restoring?? It's an upright - A.Mittag Berlin (no date?), in Burr walnut case, (and a decorative rosewood? - centre inlay, and brass? - inlays for the name and such), with amazingly beautiful pieces of wood used, - very well matched and put together! Tho its a little sun faded. Needs a good overhaul with some sandpaper by the look of it. Has anyone heard of one of these before, or know anything?

[Bill Kibby]

It seems at times that almost everyone who writes to me has a burr walnut piano, and there is no great significance in that. I have nothing ready on computer about this name, but I'll see what I can find on card and paper files. In the meantime, if you would like to email photos to me, this may tell me more about likely date, although it will not be possible to be precise, unless the piano has datemarks inside. Have a look at

http://www.uk-piano.org/piano-gen/datem ... ianos.html

We cannot tell you if it is worth restoring, you need a tuner/techician on the spot.

[Bill Kibby]

I can tell you that by 1928, there was an E. Mittag in Berlin, but not A. Mittag.

[cellist]

Hi. I also have a piano with similar feature by A.Mittag, Berlin (upright). Was told by a piano tuner that Mittag was originally a furniture maker and it could date back to 1911. It appears to be made from mahogany, with holes in the front panel where candle holders may have been, with a inlayed pattern in the centre panel, containing flower and flying insects (quite difficult to spot). The name plaque is just inside the lid above the keyboard. It was originally a birthday present, and has been in the family 15 years. The orignal owners were going to slice the carved legs off it because it was to difficult to dust. Has been a great instrument and a great addition to the family home, even though it took three people to bring into the house because of its weight and had to take the doors off to get it in. Has also been of great help whilst learning to tune a piano. A beautiful and very useful piece of craftsmanship.

[Pianomate]

Sounds like a typical late 19th - early 20th Century overstrung German piano. Typical German workmanship, built like a tank. Burr walnut and the motifs you describe are typical of the period. They also seem to survive quite well, having being fitted with high quality actions and components.

The easiest thing to dust carved features with is a PURE BRISTLE bannister brush (not the coco fibre type).

Do you have any photographs?

Tho its a little sun faded. Needs a good overhaul with some sandpaper by the look of it.

Try Lakeone French Polish Restorer and Reviver. These are quite easy for DIY use. You should not need to remove the original polish, usually it just needs rubbing down lightly with fine wire wool and renovating with the above preparations, rather than needing to remove the original French Polish and reapplying it (a skilled and labour intensive job).