Treleaven Brothers Piano

[SEACOPIANO]

We have acquired a Treleaven Brothers Piano. Looking for any info on this manufacturer. Can't find anything on the Web.

[Colin Nicholson]

Never heard of that name!
Not likely to be a manufacturer's name, but probably the trader's name.
The piano seems to be straight-strung, early 1900's & could be a stencil piano - and anyone can stick letters on a piano and give it a name?
If it has a maker's name, this may be located inside the piano near the tuning pins?

[Bill Kibby]

As I probably said when you emailed me, I have over twenty thousand piano names on file, many are fictitious aliases, and most are not listed on the net. Treleaven hasn't appeared so far, but the piano seems to fall into the category listed above, about 1910 pianos.

Any further clues will be hidden inside the piano.

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Upload a couple of photos showing the inside of the piano. Get nice and close and use a flash.
That will help

[Colin Nicholson]

I doubt if there will be any advantage in taking a photo of the inside of this piano (no disrespect). It'll be a bird cage action (along with being straight-strung) - and may only confirm the piano is from the early 1900's. The photos would also need to be taken in the right places, and possibly with the mechanism removed & 'filmed' from the back.

There is no harm in this post trying elsewhere to find info on this piano, but when Bill utters these immortal words above, we just bow our heads & gracefully move on!

By 'acquiring' this piano.... does that mean it was FREE?

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

I just like nosying inside pianos that's all Colin

... and at least it would confirm for sure whether it is straight-strung and overdamped or not.

Drinks cabinet conversion anyone?

[Colin Nicholson]

It'll definitely be straight-strung coz the left key block is the same width as the right one! Over-strung have a wider LH keyblock coz of the gap between 1st string's angle with first key - usually about 2"

I should be a detective!

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

It'll definitely be straight-strung coz the left key block is the same width as the right one! Over-strung have a wider LH keyblock coz of the gap between 1st string's angle with first key - usually about 2"

I should be a detective!

Oooooh! I like that cheeky fact. Thanks Colin, it will come in handy.
I sometimes get photos from people asking if I'm interested in their piano. They often only send a photo like the one at the top of this topic. Now I'll know!!

Excellent!

[SEACOPIANO]

Yes, we did get it for free. It was one of those "come get this thing out of my garage" deals! The folks told us they thought it was built in the early 1900's and it had traveled across 3 continents with family members. A lot of keys not working. I am no piano expert (and can just barely play for that matter) but for free, it is a nice piece of furniture! Don't know if it is worth putting money into or not. I'll dig into it further when I have time and try to post some more pictures to help identify it.

[Colin Nicholson]

Yeh Mark, I can often sift out a straight-strung/ over-damped over the phone!

Get them to open the top lid, peer inside & play a note (over the phone).

If the 'large oval bit' moves away from them & 'little square bit' moves towards them = under-damped usually.

If the 'little square bit' (only) moves towards them (and up slightly) = over-damped.
And often seen by a wooden rail obscuring everything else.

Then ask them to measure the key blocks ('bits of wood' at side of key).
Say LH = 2.5" & RH = 1.5" = overstrung
If both are about 1.5" = straight/ oblique strung.

Sometimes using 'layman' terms instead of hammers/ dampers is easier for someone who doesn't know what on earth you are talking about! Some people also refer 'felt' to snooker table baize - being green, so that also confuses folk when you say "white felt" !!

The piano above can now easily be determined whether its under or over - damped.....but my guess is over-damped!

I'll place a bet with you Mark!

[NewAge]

It'll definitely be straight-strung coz the left key block is the same width as the right one! Over-strung have a wider LH keyblock coz of the gap between 1st string's angle with first key - usually about 2"

I should be a detective!

Colin,
Nice bit of detective work . Like it!
You've now qualified for an Avatar like mine!


(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

[SEACOPIANO]

Is there an easy way to tell if the keys on this piano are ivory or not?

[MarkGoodwinPianos]

Yes if you see faint split in the key halfway up then it means it is 2 pieces of ivory stuck together. Can you see a line?

[Gill the Piano]

Yes, I reckon any tuner can!