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<DIV><FONT size=2>An amazing find here, I almost can't believe this
one...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Yesterday I received a phone call from a lady =
who says
she has a friend who is trying to find a home for her piano. I ask =
what it
is and her only answer is "I don't know, just an old
piano".</FONT> <FONT size=2>She gives me the first name of =
her
friend and the number. Naturally the first thing that comes =
to mind
is an old PSO upright that should be burned. So what the heck,
</FONT><FONT size=2>I call.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>She says that she is moving this weekend and she =
needs to get
this piano out immediately. Again I ask what it is. "I don't =
know,
just a big grand" she says. (Okay getting somewhere, it least it =
isn't an
old upright). Then she says it's 100 years old and it doesn't =
play.
(Here we go again). Almost reluctantly I agree to swing by and =
take a
look. The lady lives in one of the worst neighborhoods in Las =
Vegas, the
type of which you don't dare walk around at night without packing a =
Smith &
Wesson.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I knock on the door and it's this little old =
lady. She
explains that she is moving to Texas and didn't know what to do with the =
piano. She doesn't want any money for it, just wants to get it out =
of the
house immediately, period. I walk in and almost fall over... What =
is
it? How about an original Broadwood!!!!!!! I'm talking
historic! It could possibly even qualify as a =
forte-piano.
Read on...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The case features hand carved legs =
and fancy
lyre, numerous carved curves and edges, some accent carved lace on =
the
music rack, all original and intact. Even the original =
strings. The
fallboard reads the following elaborately carved into an <U>ivory =
plaque</U>,
(much nicer than this font, just so you get the idea):</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" =
size=5>PATENT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" size=5>John =
BRoadwood &
Sons</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" size=5>Makers To =
His Majesty
& Princess</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" size=5>Great =
Pileney Street,
Golden Square</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT face="Lucida Handwriting" =
size=5>London</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Now for the details:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Serial number reads #643. This =
places it at
about 1843. The Pierce book describes it as a "Cottage
Grand"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>The piano measures 6 feet and =
6-1/2
inches long.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>It is 4 feet 1/4 inch across the front
rim.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>It has 6 -1/2 octaves =
measuring 3
feet and 7-1/2 inches wide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>The original ivory is in remarkable =
shape, all
intact but significant wear.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>The tuning pins are the original oval =
hammered and
tapered type, very primitive looking. The exposed pin block is =
split
badly.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>The plate (if you can call it that), is =
light
weight and made up of five independent sections all held together with
screws. It does not make direct contact the pin =
block.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>The beams on the bottom are very light
weight. They look like about 3"X3".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>Rather than agraffs or a capo the =
strings pass
through a continuous brass rail that extends all the way across the pin
block.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2>There are two strings per note =
including the bass
strings. The bass strings may be steel wound, I need to look =
closer at
this.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The rim is made up of four sections. The tail =
piece is
curved part way and the other sections are rounded with a miter joint =
concealed
below the veneer to make it appear as if it were one piece.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The legs are round and nicely hand carved. =
They are
attached via a threaded wood dowel through the bottom.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The lyre is made to really look like a lyre. =
There are
two pedals, both wood.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The bridges are very delicate and narrow. =
There is a
separate bass bridge which meets up to the treble bridge at a nearly =
right
angle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The sound board grain goes cross-wise. There =
are about a
dozen cracks but still all glued, no loose ribs that I =
noticed</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The action is amazing. I have not had the =
opportunity to
pull it out yet. Let-off is adjusted by big oval pins which
look similar to the tuning pins. The hammers are very =
tiny and
delicate as are the dampers. I will know much more when I pull it
out.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The biggest concern structurally that I can see =
is that
the spine side, (lid hinge side), is slightly bent outward. I =
would guess
that this was caused by tension and probably occurred over 100 years =
ago.
The veneer is in remarkable shape considering it's age but will still =
require
substantial repair. Most of the damage is on the tail which =
appears as if
it might have been against a radiator sometime in it's =
life.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>So the little old lady just wants it out and she =
wants it out
now! She isn't looking for money. Alan Meyer and I rushed =
over at
about 7:30 AM this morning, packed it up, and headed to the opposite end =
of town
to my garage where it sits now. To ward off any guilt I gave the =
lady a
little money toward her moving expenses. She was delighted and =
gave me a
big hug as if I were her grandson, she couldn't have been =
happier.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>SO.... There are the basics, I hope to =
have some
more details soon. My question right now is can anyone provide =
some
general insight about this piano's value? I presume this =
instrument has
more museum value than musical value and would look nice behind velvet
ropes. I'm still trying to believe this actually happened all
in about 18 hours from the initial phone call and didn't cost me =
anything
except my little "thank you" money I gave her on my way out the =
door.
Comments, info anyone please...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Las Vegas, NV</FONT></DIV>
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