Piano History

I have been asked to help source a black baby grand for a theatrical production that takes place in New York in 1944. I would think that high-gloss piano finishes would not have been around back then, but I thought I'd ask the experts to make sure. When did manufacturers start doing high-gloss?

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Peter Stevenson RPT
P.S. Piano Service
Prince George BC
250-562-5358
ps@pspianoservice.com
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High gloss polyester of the modern Asian piano etc probably came in the 60s. But pianos of the 40s would probably have been polished to a fairly high gloss, using hand rubbing methods, with rottenstone (a VERY fine abrasive) as the last step before the polisher. So if true authenticity is wanted, the finish would probably have a higher sheen than many or most satin finishes of today, but it wouldn't look like the thick gloss poly finishes either.

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Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
http://fredsturm.net
"When I smell a flower, I don't think about how it was cultivated. I like to listen to music the same way." -Federico Mompou
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Thanks, Fred; that's helpful. They are not requiring a high level of authenticity, and in fact, I suspect that they will end up with a Yamaha, since that is what is available out here. I just wanted to give them an informed opinion.

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Peter Stevenson RPT
P.S. Piano Service
Prince George BC
250-562-5358
ps@pspianoservice.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2014 18:05
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: History of high-gloss finish

High gloss polyester of the modern Asian piano etc probably came in the 60s. But pianos of the 40s would probably have been polished to a fairly high gloss, using hand rubbing methods, with rottenstone (a VERY fine abrasive) as the last step before the polisher. So if true authenticity is wanted, the finish would probably have a higher sheen than many or most satin finishes of today, but it wouldn't look like the thick gloss poly finishes either.

-------------------------------------------
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
http://fredsturm.net
"When I smell a flower, I don't think about how it was cultivated. I like to listen to music the same way." -Federico Mompou
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