<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond Bold"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1522" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>Geoff said: " <DIV><FONT size=+0>I had my first birdcage yesterday. I think I lucked out. Yeah, difficult =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>to</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>work on, but considering it is probably over 100 years old the thing =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>looked</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>practically new. A Carl H. Hintz, made in Germany. I could not find a =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>serial</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>number but a medallion on the fall board says 1900. See below for links =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>to</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>the photos I took.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>The woman who owns this piano inherited if from her mom about 30 years =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>ago.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>She says that her family purchased it from it's previous owner when she =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>was</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>six. My guess is that translates to about 50 years ago. The current =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>owner</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>has played it but claims she has never had it tuned or any other work</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>performed on it since she took ownership 30 years ago. Had I not already</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>seen this piano before agreeing to work on it I might have had second</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>thoughts about the job. But the thing is gorgeous and I wanted to add</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>birdcage experience to my accomplishments.=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>The piano is clean and in incredibly good shape. It's obvious that =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>sometime</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>just prior to my customer receiving the piano some major work was done =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>on</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>it. New strings, pins, bridges, hammers, felts etc. Since it has been =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>played</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>for 30 years the hammers need reshaping but all the rest of the felt is</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>almost like new.=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Aside from sharing the photos of this piano I also have a couple of</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>questions. The only thing apparently NOT replaced or repaired on this =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>piano</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>was the pinblock. Which actually sort of makes sense. And while it is</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>unquestionably on the loose side it will actually, just barely, hold a</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>tuning. For how long...?=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Even a good piano, after 30 years, is not going to sound even remotely =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>good.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This one definitely sounded dreadful. A4 was at 409. I was advised by a</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>couple of techs NOT to attempt a pitch raise but to just bring it into =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>tune</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>wherever it already was. They said that the piano was never designed to =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>be</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>tuned to 440 and chances are the soundboard and/or plate could sustain</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>damage if I tried to bring it up to that. I brought it up to 415 only</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>because that was as low as I could get PRCT to go. And it held. And she =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>was</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>happy.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Question 1: Given the overall great condition of the rest of the piano, =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>is</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>it a candidate for a thin CA glue treatment to the pins to improve =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>tuning</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>stability?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Question 2: Should the answer to question 1 be yes, what pitch should =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>this</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>piano realistically be tuned to?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>The owner is willing to put "some" money into making it play better =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>because</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>even in tune the worn hammers make it sound pretty funky. Is it worth =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>it? In</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>fact, what do you people think this piano is worth?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>The following photos are for reference to my above questions, and your</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>enjoyment.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This is a front view of the piano, with everything in place. I noticed =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>that</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>the left and right panels had the screw holes filled where the =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>candelabras</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>used to be. Had I not looked really closely I never would have noticed.=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/82gst"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/82gst</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This is a close up of the center of the front panel. The flowers are</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>engraved into the wood.=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/b99ac"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/b99ac</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>The fallboard had two medallions on either side of a nameplate casting. =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Here</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>is the left medallion.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/dxvgn"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/dxvgn</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>Here is the nameplate casting.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/8rbra"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/8rbra</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>And here is the right medallion, showing the date of 1900.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/ccou5"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/ccou5</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This is a straight on view of the action. The brass is shiny. The damper</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>wires shine. The screws, strings and pins are undamaged and show no =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>signs of</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>rust. The wood is so clean that I find it hard to believe that it is</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>original, and the felt is like new. Even the bridle straps are in good</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>condition.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/7k7sl"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/7k7sl</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This is the bass bridge. Obviously new. Not a scratch or crack anywhere.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/8nnfe"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/8nnfe</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This is the treble bridge. Again, obviously new. Not a scratch or crack</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>anywhere. I'm surprised, though, at the older look of the pins.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/8xmmv"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/8xmmv</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>This is the plate and pinblock and all that stuff. Look how clean =</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>everything</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>is.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/dr5jj"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/dr5jj</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>And finally, the soundboard. Is this new, or has just been expertly</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>restored?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://tinyurl.com/djssr"><FONT size=+0>http://tinyurl.com/djssr</FONT></A></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>I'm looking forward to your comments and suggestions.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>-- Geoff Sykes</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>-- Assoc. Los Angeles</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0>=20</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=+0></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Geoff,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Having seen the pictures, My gut reaction is: there is nothing New in that piano, although it is unusual in that it says 1900 on it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>The Germans, for the most part, only made Over Damper pianos from about 1870 to 1880. Then they gave it up for lack of a market. I have seen several like this, but were from the aforementioned date(s). The case style is definately NOT of the 1900 period of German piano making, so I'd say it was a "specially made" one. The Atlas says little other than to infer that it was a "custom" shop. So that would make more sense as to it's period of manufacture.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>As to the pitch to tune it at?......Since the German piano wire was light years ahead of anyone else, it is/would be safe to tune it at 440cps. However, if you want to be ultra safe, I'd say that the International Pitch of A=435cps is the way to go. The overall structure/construction/workmanship of German uprights is quite rugged compared to the English counterparts. Look at the plate. It is massive compared to English types!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>As for the CA glue? Yes!</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)</DIV> <DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV> <DIV>Squares R I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>