<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=text/html;charset=iso-8859-1 = http-equiv=Content-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 = HTML//EN"> <META content='"MSHTML 4.71.1712.3"' name=GENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Hi John,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I've not worked on a Justin Browne piano, but from = the sound of the responses, it's a Birdcage!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>At the risk of being flamed for my opinion, I = wouldn't be afraid of the piano, but I might want to check out the customer pretty = well, and determine if they know what they have and what they can expect.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>We had an old piano, I can't remember the name on = it, from England I <FONT color=#000000>believe</FONT>, somewhere around = 100years old in our shop for some work.  It was a birdcage action, and straight = strung, with a nut (as opposed to a capo bar or agraffes).  We restrung it = with oversize pins, put on new dampers, and did some action work, (regulating = and minor repairs) at the customer's request.  Turns out it was a = wedding gift the couple had bought for each other many years before, so there was = sentimental attachment.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>But what I was getting at, a lot of what you find = sometimes in some of these old pianos isn't quite what you think of as a 'modern' piano.  If you're expecting a modern Steinway grand, you'll be very = disappointed.  A lot of these old pianos can have a very 'guitar' = like sound, but are not necessarily bad sounding, just different.  Much = hinges around just what you and they are expecting.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Incidentally, the piano we worked on, to which I've referenced, was in pretty good shape overall.  The bridges were = good, the soundboard was good, the nut was good, the cabinet was excellent.  = It turned out very nice, and although it didn't play or sound like a modern = piano, it was very pleasant both to play and to listen to, again depending upon = your expectation.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>The tuning and the damper system on a birdcage can = be quite different that what you're used to.  Here's something for you to = try.  On the piano we had, it may be similar, it may not be, we could take the = whole damper 'assembly' off of the action with 2 screws I think. (Relax, it = came out in one big assembly, not a bunch of individual dampers.)  For us, = the easiest thing was to remove the damper assembly, and put in the mute = strips like you usually would, and tune away.  It's a little odd, but it's not hard.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I hope you have good fortune with this = situation.  I'd be inclined to approach the piano with 'a clean slate'.  Don't bring expectations or disappointments with you from other pianos you've worked = on.  Let it be a new experience all it's own.  It just might = turn out good for everyone involved.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Good luck, and best wishes,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Brian Trout</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Quarryville, Pa.</FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: = 5px"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><B>-----Original = Message-----</B><BR><B>From: </B>John M. Formsma <<A = href="mailto:jformsma@dixie-net.com">jformsma@dixie-net.com</A>><BR>= <B>To: </B>PianoTech <<A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><BR><B>Date: </B>Saturday, April 10, 1999 6:16 PM<BR><B>Subject: </B>Justin = Browne piano<BR><BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>Greetings.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>Today I had someone drive to my house from about 50 miles = away to see if I would work on a piano they have. They don't have a phone.  = ???</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>Anyway, the piano is a Justin Browne, made in London = according to the label. The Pierce Piano Atlas has but one listing--->1870-1910. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>Does anyone here have any experience with them? From what = they said, it is a rosewood piano, and there are 13 notes not working. (They = were working on it themselves, and I wondered if I would have to eat my = words to the list written hours ago that I worked on just about any piano. = :-) ) I may regret it, but I suppose I'll have a look at it when I am going = to be in the area next.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>If you have any knowledge, it would be helpful to know something about = the piano. This is the first time that I've ever heard the name.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=380274322-10041999><FONT color=#000000 = face=Arial size=2>Thanks in advance.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000000 face=Arial size=2>John = Formsma</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>