Pianotech

  • 1.  Recommendations for refelting 1850s Broadwood hammers in USA and familiarity with Broadwood action

    Posted 10-03-2024 18:27

    On account of YouTube videos with the historic instruments at Hammerwood I've been consulted by a collector who is starting a foundation for pianists interested in historical pianos in NYC.

    He has a very original 1855 concert grand with the original hammers which he believes are impossible to reproduce. Reading his email again he says that it's currently in storage in the UK but I but I don't have the space to take it on before export to USA. Were it to be exported direct before restoration is there anyone in the US familiar with this period of Broadwood and the action? And any recommendations as to anyone able to re-cover the hammers?

    Were it to need restringing, it would be a standard job as they hadn't by this stage introduced the metal threaded wrest plank.

    If it needs restringing, my mentor kindly did the 1854 Emerich Betsy in the Hammerwood collection using the original pins rather than renewing with larger ones as is standard practice. Is this achieved by screwing the pins back into the wrestplank rather than hitting them in? (I don't remember at the time what he did as at the time I had little idea that my passion for tuning would turn serious)

    Best wishes

    David P



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    David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
    Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
    +44 1342 850594
    "High Definition" Tuning
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  • 2.  RE: Recommendations for refelting 1850s Broadwood hammers in USA and familiarity with Broadwood action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-03-2024 20:21

    Hi David, you might be interested in this article in today's Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/10/03/arts/ashburnham-frederick-historical-piano-collection/

    A Guild member who comes to mind is Doug Laing, who has restored a number of older instruments. He can point you to other rebuilders of 1800s pianos. Anne Acker is another that comes to mind.

    If it's being sent to the US keep in mind the stringent requirements enforced by Customs/the Fish & Wildlife Agency controlling the import of ivory.



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    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
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  • 3.  RE: Recommendations for refelting 1850s Broadwood hammers in USA and familiarity with Broadwood action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-03-2024 20:25

    And of course Ronson makes hammers for "square pianos" and probably can refelt the original hammers. In Germany, Abel offers refelting of early vintage pianos.   



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    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
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  • 4.  RE: Recommendations for refelting 1850s Broadwood hammers in USA and familiarity with Broadwood action

    Posted 10-04-2024 13:14

    Thanks to ALL and hopefully this may be a topic of interest to many

    Fred in particular has long expertise in these matters and all suggestions from all are very helpful and appreciated. For those curious about what all the fuss is about, the hammers are layered as in the Pape design. 

    https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=1201&MID=228408

    https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2408139/1.html

    are a couple of threads about the details of these hammers.

    This is a photo of an 1869 Broadwood hammer and I've checked the 1859 instrument which is similar

    Multi layer hammer of 1869 Broadwood
    I wasn't aware that Abel were able to replicate this or resurface the outer felt. A trade friend locally got my 1869 hammers refelted but refused to tell me who he had got to do it. :-(
    This hammer construction is important for the tone of the instrument.
    Upon refelting the 1869 instrument is soft but I'm waiting for it to be "played in". With the original hammers the tone was much harder and possibly
    https://youtu.be/289iHaTM2f4?t=1850
    is representative of the sound that we might expect from such hammers.
    Very often I see people bad-mouthing instruments of the pre-modern era but they are incredibly important to pianism and the understanding of the music which was written for our instrument and lead to us being able to take forward transferable understanding both to the modern instrument and how it should be played.
    Best wishes
    David P


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    David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
    Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
    +44 1342 850594
    "High Definition" Tuning
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Recommendations for refelting 1850s Broadwood hammers in USA and familiarity with Broadwood action

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-05-2024 06:14
    I use Defouges in France.   They will refelt in layers exactly like this.  Their work DUPLICATES the originals.  







  • 6.  RE: Recommendations for refelting 1850s Broadwood hammers in USA and familiarity with Broadwood action

    Posted 10-05-2024 06:36
    Dear Douglas

    THANKS!

    You're a star

    Best wishes

    David P

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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594