<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1264" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk href="mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk">Michael Gamble</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=rrg@unlv.nevada.edu href="mailto:rrg@unlv.nevada.edu">Rob Goodale</A> ; <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 11, 2003 5:41 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: More on the Broadwood piano</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Rob Goodale who said: = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"<FONT face="Times New = Roman">(someone commented on this a few days ago, I'm not sure who because it's on my other computer = at home). "</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am the guilty party who commented on = the action in your "find". I could only describe the way the hammer = butts fit in on one long centre-pin captivated by about four (or may be five) = brass "comb-like" plates. Under the main rail are the set-off screws. Be very = careful here. Do not adjust unless you're certain they can be adjusted without = breaking. In this I would suggest heating the shank of the set-off screw with a = soldering iron in one hand and "wiggling" the correct size slot-head tipped = regulating tool in the other. I have a book here entitled "Broadwood by = Appointment  a History" by David Wainwright. Published by Quiller Press Ltd., 11a = Albemarle St., London W1X 3HE in 1982.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> ISBN 0  907621  = 10  4</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also mentioned the possibility of = finding the various craftsmens names stamped on various parts of the piano and its = action, suggesting you might find one of the Dove family included.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As for "who played this piano and what = was played on it" most certainly Chopin. In fact I have an LP (remember those = things?) of the last programme played by Frederic Chopin himself on a Broadwood = Grand in London just before his death. The pianist, Kenneth van = Barthold, played on the actual piano used by M.Chopin and the sale of the PLs was to raise = funds for that piano's restoration. The piano is in a museum near London. = Historical books on the life of Chopin are also of interest here. Indeed Beethoven = himself was sent a Broadwood by the company in 1818. Thomas Broadwood, head of the = firm at that time, visited Beethoven in Vienna - then sent him a fortepiano. = Beethoven wrote back to Thomas a thank-you letter "My very dear friend Broadwood, = I have never felt a greater pleasure than your honour's intimation of the = arrival of this piano with which you are honouring me as a present. As soon as I = receive your excellent instrument, I shall immediately sernd you the fruits of = the first moments of inspiration I spend at it, as a souvenir for you from me, my = very dear B, and I hope they will bve worthy of your instrument.".... etc. = When Beethoven died the six 8ve mahogany Broadwood grand was given to Franz = Liszt who left it in his will to the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest. It was = later used by Melvyn Tan for a series of recitals in Budapest, Bonn (where = Beethoven was born), Vieanna (where he died) and London where it was made. It is = insured (this is the interesting part!) for Ł5 million.  That was in = 1991. What is its value now - 12 years later?... I could go on, but everyone MUST be = bored by now.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G (UK)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Any more?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G = (UK)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>