Simplex or Roller?

classic-keyboard · Post by **classic-keyboard** » 15 Mar 2005, 19:12

I'm still looking for a small grand piano which will be used to develop my knowledge of piano construction and action service/rebuilding. From this point of view (as well as playing), what's anyone's opinion as to the type of action I should be after? It looks to me like a simplex piano is always cheaper than a roller piano. All thoughts gratefully received...

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 15 Mar 2005, 21:34

If you are going to learn then a Roller, there are more of them and the simplex action is no longer made you can buy 3note models from Langer and one note models from Renner a lot cheaper than a full grand

Barrie,

classic-keyboard · Post by **classic-keyboard** » 15 Mar 2005, 22:36

Thank you Barrie. New as I am to this forum, I'm quickly learning what an asset your contributions are.

I'm fascinated to discover these action models - I didn't know such things existed. I might well buy one to use as a guide - but I still need a 'whole' piano!

So, my dream remains to find a restorable baby grand with a roller action, in my music room for under a ?1000. And just to make things really unlikely I'd like to find one with sostenuto. I'll keep reading this excellent forum in the meantime.

classic-keyboard · Post by **classic-keyboard** » 16 Mar 2005, 10:56

Is there any way to tell which type of action a piano has without taking it out, or playing it? I'm looking at several instruments on eBay that sellers don't know what type they've got. Are there any tell-tale signs? Or it just a case of knowing based on the brand and age? For instance there's a 'Bell Of London' baby grand cheap(!) on eBay that's about to end. The seller knows nothing about actions and ask me if I can tell her what to look for.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 16 Mar 2005, 11:25

They will have to take the fall off you don’t need to remove the action you can see from there if it is a Simplex or Roller with the Roller you can see the set off buttons and the heal of the jacks. With the Simplex you just see the jacks with a grub screw

But if they don’t know what a jack is or a set off button looks like they may find it difficult.

I would say that make will be a Simplex

I did this for Fletcher it may help you will need flash
http://www.fletcher-newman.co.uk/flash/ ... ction.html

Barrie,

classic-keyboard · Post by **classic-keyboard** » 16 Mar 2005, 12:23

Barrie, that helps a lot and I'll bear it in mind when I'm looking at a piano. As for the eBay thing, you're right - the seller wouldn't know what to look at. The other piano I've got my eye on and which does have a roller action (so the seller says) is almost certainly going to exceed my budget by the end of the auction. It's this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... RK:MEWA:IT

- pretty piano though it would be news to me if Rushworth and Dreaper actually made pianos. I assume it's a badging job.

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 16 Mar 2005, 22:17

1828
Rushworth's was founded by William Rushworth, a pipe organ builder in Yorkshire. In the late 1800s the company moved to Liverpool. Apparently a piano was sold from the offices, almost by accident, and it was then they decided to sell pianos to the general public. This was the start of the piano retail site. At first pianos were made by Clarence Lyon of London, and not long after Rushworth's began producing classic British pianos alongside their world-famous organ building, which is now in its fifth generation under the leadership of Alastair Rushworth. It has become the largest organ builder in the UK. Around 1921 Rushworth also acquired pianos from Squire & Longsons for £29.00 and resold them for £49 guineas.

In 1969 the piano retail side formed into a separate company. This was after piano production was stopped at the St. Anne Street workshop to allow them to concentrate on organ building.

In 1998 the piano retail side went under major reconstruction under the guidance of David Rushworth, and they have introduced a wider range of overseas pianos. The Rushworth piano is now made for Rushworth's in the Far East and is backed up by Rushworth's in-house service facilities.

Barrie,

classic-keyboard · Post by **classic-keyboard** » 17 Mar 2005, 09:10

Once more I stand corrected. I knew about Rushworth and Dreaper's organ-building but had never checked if they made pianos. So, even more reason why that piano I mentioned will be too expensive by the time the auction ends...

Post by **Barrie Heaton** » 17 Mar 2005, 18:00

I would say just looking at it if the base is not too tubby it would go for £2500 + in a shop in the north

But looks can be deceiving

Barrie,