<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Stephane,<o:p></o:p></= p> <o:p> </o:p> The sound is rather good, at least = as good as it can be because the hammers are severely worn, this makes the = treble to hard and the bass to soft.<o:p></o:p> The sound is not comparable with = modern grands tho, still firm, not to sharp with a spark of briliance in it, = not glassy as I read in the modern sound = treath.<o:p></o:p> The end result will very much be = depending on the hammers<o:p></o:p> I was thinking of refelting the = hammer, now I only have to choose the felt!!!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I would be nice to know what the = correct age of the piano is, this could help me in choosing the strings, I = cleaned the bass strings already, i tested 2 bass strings and they sound a bit = better after the cleaning but this will show in the end<o:p></o:p> The plain strings are so rusty that = I don’t know how to clean them. Do you have a = suggestion?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Kind = regards,<o:p></o:p> Peter = Joris<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Stéphane Collin Sent: Thursday, March 03, = 2005 12:40 To: <st1:PersonName = w:st="on">Pianotech</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: Restoring = Collard & Collard Grand<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Hello Peter !<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> How is the sound ?  I recall having heard 3 = Collard & Collard upright pianos, and they all had the same funny sound like = if there was way not enough tension in the strings.  It made me think = that those were designed to be tuned far higher than 440.  Just curious if the = grand has the same issue.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Period hard drawn iron strings reproductions are available from different sources : Malcom Rose (<a href="http://www.malcom-rose.com">www.malcom-rose.com</a>) (you would = probably choose type C) ; Stephen Paulello (he's got a nice chart for deducing (following his assumptions) the right string quality after the string = length, the gage and the diapason) ; Pure sound (<a href="http://www.puresound-wire.com">www.puresound-wire.com</a>) = (but this wire will probably be too stiff for the Collard & = Collard).<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> But those strings are a modern mild steel compromise, = not the real iron stuff.  Stephen Birkett had a project for = reproducing the period iron equivalent.  I don't know if he already = finalized this.  Some nice info here : <a href="http://real.uwaterloo.ca/~sbirkett/historical%20wire.htm">http://= real.uwaterloo.ca/~sbirkett/historical%20wire.htm</a><o:p><= /o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Beware, when rescaling such an instrument with modern = wire you have a great risk to over tension the piano, leading to pinblock = failures and/or case failures.  And if you rescale with particular tension = in mind, you could end up with not enough tensionned strings that will sound funny.  Many restorers here will first try to save the original = strings and clean them.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Best regards.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Stéphane Collin.<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black = 1.5pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:5.0pt'= > <div> ----- Original Message ----- = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From:</span= > <a href="mailto:pjoris@pandora.be" title="pjoris@pandora.be">Peter = Joris</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" = title="pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech'</a> = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Sent: = Thursday, March 03, 2005 10:34 AM<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject: = Restoring Collard & Collard Grand<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> Hi List,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Currently I am restoring a Collard & Collard = Grand Serial: 16016 this should date between 1830 and 1840 I = think.<o:p></o:p> There is a number on the plate “<st1:place = w:st="on">K2</st1:place>” is this the type number?  It is about 183cm (6ft) = long.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Is there anybody out there who has done this = before?<o:p></o:p> Im looking for information about what kind of strings = to use for the restinging, what felt to use for refelting the hammers = etc.<o:p></o:p> Actually I can use any tip available, this the first = time I am doing this, this will be a great for = learning.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sound board is fine, the veneer of the case is rather = bad (a lot of work), the pinblock feels still good on 1 or 2 loose = pins.<o:p></o:p> It was tuned to A440 and it holds very = well.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I am thinking of a rescale, so it can be tuned at = A440 afterwards with a lower tension, doess anybody has experience with = this?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Also I would like to take out the plate for = refinishing but it goes all the way into the case wood, I did not take any veneer of to = see how it is constructed, maybe any of you know = this?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Any help will be very much = appreciated,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Kind regards<o:p></o:p> Peter Joris<o:p></o:p> Pianotuner (maybe becoming = rebuilder)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>