Bird Cage Rebuilding?

[Brian Lawson]

Basisly you confront as any other piano, only when you come to the dampers
you need end grain damper felt, if none of your American supply houses have
it then go write to the Brits at gwilliams@heckscher.co.uk


Brian Lawson  - Ex Brit
PTG Assc, MPT.
Johannesburg, South Africa

----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick C. Poulson" <ppoulson@jps.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2000 2:55 AM
Subject: Bird Cage Rebuilding?


> Hello Pianotechers! This message goes out to those of you with experience
in
> working on birdcage pianos, and most especially to any Brits out there.  I
> have read that you fortunate fellows in Great Britain still service these
> old instruments more commonly than we Yanks do.
>     Normally I would run screaming from one of these old relics, but this
> one does seem to have remote possibilities of being usable.  It has a two
> piece metal plate, and basically modern action parts except for the
> overdampers.  It is a Wessex by Milson, #70283.  I can't date it with
> Pierce's Piano Atlas, and wondered if there is anyone with a book that
shows
> this brand.  The owners bought it at an antique store, with out consulting
a
> technician of course, and want to know what it would take to restore it.
I
> gave them all the usual caveats about birdcage pianos, and if it wasn't
for
> the partially modern design of the piano I would flatly refuse to work on
> it.  Has anyone had any experience rebuilding these things? It needs new
> strings, dampers, key rebushing,  and a complete regulation. The
soundboard
> and pinblock are in reasonably good condition, especially for their age.
> Interestingly enough the hammers have very little wear, and may have been
> replace, or just not used much.
>     Thanks for your input.  Patrick Poulson, RPT
>