<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> I went to look at a grand piano for a new client today, and was a bit enthralled by what I found.  It's a 78" piano, with the serial number 9351. That serial number dates it, remarkably, to about 1826.  The piano is of striking modernity and solidity for such an age.  Just think, it was made when Beethoven was alive! I am sending some pics over several emails, to let you see some of the details. The client is considering whether to have the piano case refinished, and I am ruminating over what to advise him about the insides. It is best to have a "minimum intervention" policy, and just clean it up and tune it (it's 300 cents flat, but the pins feel great)?  Or should it go to a rebuilder for a complete job - stringing, case refinishing etc? The quality of sound is quite remarkable in its fullness and richness. It has bichords quite far up the scale (plain music wire). At every turn, it displays evidence of thoughtful design - look, for example, at the two little turned handles for pulling out the action! There is no sign of moth damage.  What do you think is the function of the curious little tabs or tongues, on the backchecks?  Observations welcome! Best regards, David. </body> </html>