Pianotech

Had the opportunity to service this beautiful Steinway upright this morning. Purchased new in 1949 by grandma, inherited by mom and now in the home of eldest daughter. Canadian. Mom, who still lives in Canada, had it restored last year by a guy in Guelph, Ontario. A+ job. Now homed in Los Angeles. Today's question: What model is it?
Yes I have more pics if desired.

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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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<grin> It's a Steinway Model P. I tuned one today, made in 1953. It had a brass medallion celebrating Steinway's 100th anniversary. It is in excellent condition, since it was not heavily used and it seems to have come to the west coast while it was quite new.

Last year I fixed up one, heavily worn and affected by the climate of Houston, Texas. I believe I remember it being made in 1939. I was very excited by it, since I'd never seen a Steinway with a case anything like this. I took a bunch of photos.

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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2018 21:25
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

Had the opportunity to service this beautiful Steinway upright this morning. Purchased new in 1949 by grandma, inherited by mom and now in the home of eldest daughter. Canadian. Mom, who still lives in Canada, had it restored last year by a guy in Guelph, Ontario. A+ job. Now homed in Los Angeles. Today's question: What model is it?
Yes I have more pics if desired.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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By the way, the one I fixed up last year had the half-round balance rail buttons, and both it and this one announced having the accelerated action.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2018 22:05
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

<grin> It's a Steinway Model P. I tuned one today, made in 1953. It had a brass medallion celebrating Steinway's 100th anniversary. It is in excellent condition, since it was not heavily used and it seems to have come to the west coast while it was quite new.

Last year I fixed up one, heavily worn and affected by the climate of Houston, Texas. I believe I remember it being made in 1939. I was very excited by it, since I'd never seen a Steinway with a case anything like this. I took a bunch of photos.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon

Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2018 21:25
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

Had the opportunity to service this beautiful Steinway upright this morning. Purchased new in 1949 by grandma, inherited by mom and now in the home of eldest daughter. Canadian. Mom, who still lives in Canada, had it restored last year by a guy in Guelph, Ontario. A+ job. Now homed in Los Angeles. Today's question: What model is it?
Yes I have more pics if desired.

------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
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I've encountered a few 40" consoles from the 40's and 50'2, all had a dead sounding boards.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page

Too bad, Jon. It sounds like a hazard of living in New England, both winter and summer extremes.

The one from Houston had a pretty reasonable tone and no cracks in the soundboard, though it was worn out and all the screws were loose. The 1953 one which came west early has a huge resilient sound, complete with a Steinway rasp in the bass. The treble areas with the oversized pressure bars were tricky to tune due to stubborn rendering, like more recent Steinway uprights only not quite so much. The overlong duplex in the first treble section tapered to a smaller one in the top end, and some of the tuning difficulty eased off along with it. .

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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 08:10
From: Jon Page
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

I've encountered a few 40" consoles from the 40's and 50'2, all had a dead sounding boards.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page

Like I said, this Steinway P has been essentially restored. Opening it up it looked like new. The detail in the work was impressive. I saw that the original wippens and jacks remained but all the little felt pads had been replaced as well as springs, backchecks & wires and bridle straps & wires. Original ivories that were like new white, and no signs of any damage every having ever occurred to the case. I was told that there was one crack in the soundboard that had been repaired. Like Susan mentioned about tuning, like all Steinway uprights it put up a fight, but it sounded quite good when finished. Quite clear tone, considering, and a long and clean sustain. Here are some closer pics...



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Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 08:10
From: Jon Page
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

I've encountered a few 40" consoles from the 40's and 50'2, all had a dead sounding boards.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page

Beautiful meticulous work. For comparison, here are a few photos of the Houston worn out Steinway P.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 17:19
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

Like I said, this Steinway P has been essentially restored. Opening it up it looked like new. The detail in the work was impressive. I saw that the original wippens and jacks remained but all the little felt pads had been replaced as well as springs, backchecks & wires and bridle straps & wires. Original ivories that were like new white, and no signs of any damage every having ever occurred to the case. I was told that there was one crack in the soundboard that had been repaired. Like Susan mentioned about tuning, like all Steinway uprights it put up a fight, but it sounded quite good when finished. Quite clear tone, considering, and a long and clean sustain. Here are some closer pics...



------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 08:10
From: Jon Page
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

I've encountered a few 40" consoles from the 40's and 50'2, all had a dead sounding boards.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page

oops. Clicked on the wrong place. Photos.

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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 19:08
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

Beautiful meticulous work. For comparison, here are a few photos of the Houston worn out Steinway P.

------------------------------
Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 17:19
From: Geoff Sykes
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

Like I said, this Steinway P has been essentially restored. Opening it up it looked like new. The detail in the work was impressive. I saw that the original wippens and jacks remained but all the little felt pads had been replaced as well as springs, backchecks & wires and bridle straps & wires. Original ivories that were like new white, and no signs of any damage every having ever occurred to the case. I was told that there was one crack in the soundboard that had been repaired. Like Susan mentioned about tuning, like all Steinway uprights it put up a fight, but it sounded quite good when finished. Quite clear tone, considering, and a long and clean sustain. Here are some closer pics...



------------------------------
Geoff Sykes, RPT
Los Angeles CA

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2018 08:10
From: Jon Page
Subject: Old Steinway upright model question

I've encountered a few 40" consoles from the 40's and 50'2, all had a dead sounding boards.

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page