"Oldest" Canadian piano??

[David Renaud]

  I have been looking at some pianos for the Canadian
Museum of Civilization that have been donated over the
years. Among them is the very first Mason & R, #101,
built in 1877. 

  There is one that seem much older, different then
anything I've seen. It Sat in the Darthmoth prison
for years and ended up at the museum.
  Fraser & Sons, Halifax Nova Scotia. Serial #2 whiten
in pencil one place in the inner cabinet.#2 is stamped
into the action in a couple places. 
  What I find unusual is the absence of a "plate"
A 4" wide thin metal strip assists support the hitch
pins of the treble. I say assists because the hitch
pins pass through an oversize hole into large timber
wedges between the posts in the back. 
A 2 " wide strip of metal along the bottom board
supports the rest of the hitch pins. The are thin
rectangular metal bars fit along the rear of the back
posts. 
Birdcage, extreamly petit hammers. As if the are not
light enough the top 20 tinny hammer butts have a hole
drilled through them to make them even lighter.
On 1870-80's pianos I often see a wood bridge instead
of a pressure bar in the bass. This one has a
continuous wood bridge at the tuning pin side
throughout-t the entire piano. I took lots of notes on
it...but
I will end it there.

    I'm guessing about 1850. Anyone have any
information at all on Fraser & Sons. 

  They also have a couple Broadwoods. One quite
early. I've lost my atlas, and will have to wait
a few days till my new one arrives. But one must 
predate most of his patents....looks like a    
harpsichord....continuous S bridge....so on.
    
Lots of notes taken, now I have to make sense of it
and create a report. Time to hit the books.
  
                        Cheers 
                        David Renaud
                        RPT
                        Canada
                
     

 



 


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