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<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>Today I was =
called to
evaluate an old piano. It turned out the be one of the most beautiful =
pianos
I've ever seen.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>It's a Collard =
&
Collard overdamper with gorgeous walnut veneer. The body style suggests
1870-1900 but can't square the numbers with the Pierce Atlas. There are =
these
letters/numbers beautifully handwritten on the harp: G12104 then, below =
that, 78
GS.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>It has a FULL =
metal frame
and a decal on the fallboard that says "Metal Frame - Check Action =
Trichord"
(Don't know what that last part is supposed to be. The action is wood =
framed but
very sturdy, heavy wood framing.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>The case =
condition is
excellent or better. The action is not worn out at all, except it needs =
new
damper felts. The soundboard has minor cracks (the grain runs parallel =
to the
floor).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>It is not =
overstrung and
the straight vertical strings (less sidebearing?) may have helped =
preserve
the bridges because I had to look hard to find even the tiniest =
beginning of an
eyelash crack on one pin.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>I know =
birdcages are
generally boo-booed and poo-pooed by people but this baby was very well =
built
and has a lot of quality to it, beyond the furniture! But as to the =
furniture
you should see the beautifully carved and cleverly designed =
fold-out/flip down
music desk.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>I'd appreciate =
any
comments, questions, thoughts, ideas, valuations, dating, etc., that you =
might
care to share.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=765463521-03122003><FONT face=Arial>BTW, the one =
thing I
haven't been able to evaluate is the pinblock because the pins are small =
rectangular-head jobs that don't work with my hammer. I might have to =
buy an
oblong-head hammer just to evaluate and/or tune this one
piano!</FONT></SPAN></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. =
Barnard</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV>
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