Pianotech

I am tuner/technician and I'm going to look at a John Broadwood grand piano for a client. I have only seen one of these before and it was in an untuneable condition. I was just wondering if these piano's were normally tuned to a standard A440, and if it would have a modern tuning?  Also, I noticed the tuning pins were a different shape, do they act like modern pins or is there a special technique for tuning these?  I'm not even sure of the condition of this piano yet, but from the picture I saw the case was in good shape. No telling what the insides look like.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

I am tuner/technician and I'm going to look at a John Broadwood grand piano for a client. I have only seen one of these before and it was in an untuneable condition. I was just wondering if these piano's were normally tuned to a standard A440, and if it would have a modern tuning?  Also, I noticed the tuning pins were a different shape, do they act like modern pins or is there a special technique for tuning these?  I'm not even sure of the condition of this piano yet, but from the picture I saw the case was in good shape. No telling what the insides look like.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

It appears from your message that you are going to evaluate this piano for possible purchase.

Broadwood pianos were made from 1775 to 1998.  You can still have one custom made, I believe.

So what is your customer's need? Antique furniture? Piano for a child to learn on? Historian wanting to play Victorian music on a historic piano?

A 20th century Broadwood would be similar to other 20th century pianos.

Earlier pianos need appropriate tools and expertise to be maintained or restored to playing condition.

You may want to consider referring someone who specializes in 19th century pianos.

I had one - a Cottage Fish-tail Grand N0.857 which I overhauled and restrung. The frame of mine was 'constructed' that is, not cast but with individual bolted on bars. The wrest-pins were 'oblong' - but here's the oddity - they had engineering threads, and the plate was drilled and tapped to take them. It was also straight strung and the dampers were difficult to remove for recovering - particularly those next to the 'bars'.Look for a green decal on the soundboard showing 'Instructions for Tuners' - or some such thing relating to replacing a string (due to the w-pins being threaded.    Michael   UK

I looked at this piano last night. This is a storage unit find and the customer is wanting to put it in her new home. She doesn't need it in concert condition but would just like it to play.  After evaluation I found that the case is in good condition and someone has restrung it in the not so distant past as the strings look relatively new with no rust and there are modern tuning pins in it. The pins are not real tight but seem like they should hold a tuning. It is currently about 250 cents flat so will have to see how it handles being brought up to pitch. Will probably do it in stages. There is one broken hammer so I'll have to pull the action, also will need a bit of regulation.

One more question though, would a modern tuning be appropriate or should it have some type of historical temperment?

Thanks for all your replies and info.

I looked at this piano last night. This is a storage unit find and the customer is wanting to put it in her new home. She doesn't need it in concert condition but would just like it to play.  After evaluation I found that the case is in good condition and someone has restrung it in the not so distant past as the strings look relatively new with no rust and there are modern tuning pins in it. The pins are not real tight but seem like they should hold a tuning. It is currently about 250 cents flat so will have to see how it handles being brought up to pitch. Will probably do it in stages. There is one broken hammer so I'll have to pull the action, also will need a bit of regulation.

One more question though, would a modern tuning be appropriate or should it have some type of historical temperment?

Thanks for all your replies and info.

Hello John,

It still isn't clear from your posts how old this piano actually is. If it is a modern piano, you can treat it just like any other modern piano. I have a John Broadwood & Sons Overstrung Quarter Grand piano from 1909 and for the most part it is just like any other 20th-century grand piano. As far as the tuning goes, in most situations, the only reason to tune a piano to something other than equal temperament is if the client wants the piano in something other than equal temperament, regardless of the age of the piano.

Hello Peter

Your 'quarter Grand' - is it double-overstrung? Some of these are difficult to get the action out. Have to remove the lock rail to do so.

Michael   UK 

I was servicing the Broadwood grand a few days ago and I am wrong - it does not have a standard modern action. However, it seems to be pretty easy to work with. Also, John, you were asking about whether the piano should be tuned to A=440 hz. You may be interested to know that this piano has a sticker on it that says "High Pitch C=540". And Michael, it is double-strung in a pretty standard way, and the action was relatively easy to take out. I will try attaching pictures of all these items.

I was servicing the Broadwood grand a few days ago and I am wrong - it does not have a standard modern action. However, it seems to be pretty easy to work with. Also, John, you were asking about whether the piano should be tuned to A=440 hz. You may be interested to know that this piano has a sticker on it that says "High Pitch C=540". And Michael, it is double-strung in a pretty standard way, and the action was relatively easy to take out. I will try attaching pictures of all these items.

This isn't double-strung.  I see trichords.

Douglas - 'double over-strung' is not with reference to the number of strings per note, (in a two-string-per-note piano that would be called 'Bicorda' by Broadwood - like my Fish-tail) but to the way it's strung. Some Broadwoods of this era (this is Feb/March1909) have the bass strings crossing over the Tenor strings which, in turn, cross over the treble strings. These are sometimes a pain to slide the action out of until you realize it is necessary to remove the lock rail and, quite likely, to tip the action upwards in order that the hammers clear the underside of the pin block. My 'Fish-tail' Cottage Grand (No.857) was straight strung, had oblong pins, a 'made' steel frame (not a casting as this one is) and a Very Peculiar Action - which I liked! So this is just an ordinary small 'modern' Grand with a Renner-type single ended jack spring. The only oddity is that message: 'A=450' . Not sure off-hand what pitch that refers to but, unless it's been restrung, the strings may be slightly under-gauge . . . . Interesting. Are the pedals wood? Do the legs screw on, using wooden threads? (turned on a Holtzapfel Lathe) . . . .     Michael   UK

Hello Michael,

The piano has metal pedals. I can't say for certain about the attachment mechanism of the legs, but what comes to mind that they are attached using spade-head thumb screws.