Iron Frame?

[wanderer]

I inherited a Waddington 'Style three de luxe' piano from my grandfather while ago. It was given to him by his parents on his 14th birthday (they lived near York where the company was), and is about 80 years old by now. It's just been moved, and we discovered it has some sort of metal frame - the movers said it was the heaviest piano they had ever shifted. Are metal frames common in pianos? Does anyone know anything about the Waddington company? Are/were their pianos any good? (this one is in excellent condition given the age of it) Thanks.

Wanderer

[Bill Kibby]

They are not only common, iron frames are the normal arrangement for over a century, but pianos vary, and some have very heavy iron frames, while others have heavy wooden backs as well. Some Waddington pianos are alright, others are past their useful age, others are so old they are in museums.