David Said: "I tuned a Victorian birdcage piano today, which I had done about six months ago. I had not last time paid attention to the remains of a label stuck to the overdamper rail, but this time looked closely. I'm attaching a photo. The date you can see most clearly is 16/1/99. Gentle readers, this is not 1999, but 1899. One hundred thirteen years and four days ago today, when this piano was perhaps ten years old, a tuner got his fountain pen out (was he well-off, to have had a fountain pen?) and recorded his work. This piano has gorgeous veneer inside the top lid. I have posted several pics on my business Facebook page David Boyce Piano Services and on my Tumblr blog, http://pianopinions.tumblr.com" Best regards, David., To my eye that looks like Blue Ball Point Pen INK! However, I wish you guys/gals on the other side of the Pond would quit hogging all the Good Stuff!<G> 1899 is childs' play. The oldest piano I have tuned, on a somewhat regular basis, is an 1805 Clementi, (original founder/pre-Collard & Collard). It was restrung in the 1970's, (rather poorly), and was mechanically restored by the owner, under my guidance. Doing these are challenging, to be sure. Best Regards Backatcha, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I
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