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Welcome to ‘Friends of Square Pianos’
Update 15th May
Finchcocks!
By kind invitation of Katrina and Richard Burnett, and arranged and
sponsored by Alastair Laurence of John Broadwood & Sons,
Friends of Square
Pianos enjoyed a second Square Piano
Weekend at Finchcocks on May 12th
- 13th.
Additional sponsorship support was been given by the Geelvinck Museum, Hinlopen Huis, Amsterdam.
Additional sponsorship support was been given by the Geelvinck Museum, Hinlopen Huis, Amsterdam.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Richard Burnett's introduction to the square pianos in the Finchcocks Collection, from the tiny Zumpe to the enormous Mathuscheck. Richard demonstrated all of them with appropriate music, and his characteristic enthusiasm. Here we see him presenting the miniature Walter square - a charming little instrument from one of the greatest of the Viennese makers.
More to follow!
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Pianos for Sale
This feature continues to be popular, and interesting instruments at
reasonable prices usually find a good home quickly. As a guide,
we aim to encourage prices which reflect realistic expectations
from auctions - bearing in mind that there are no transport costs
to the auction, nor any commissions or premiums. I make no
charges at all to either buyer or seller, but we all know by now that I
do very much appreciate donations to my branch of Cats Protection
(Wellingborough & Rushden) Please see the 'Donate' button on the website : www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough
This takes you to a secure website. If you are a UK taxpayer, Cats Protection can reclaim tax paid through the Gift Aid system.
(Wellingborough & Rushden) Please see the 'Donate' button on the website : www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough
This takes you to a secure website. If you are a UK taxpayer, Cats Protection can reclaim tax paid through the Gift Aid system.
To come soon - two Collard & Collard squares. Final details being confirmed.
Friends Special
We all need tuning hammers, and it is much more enjoyable to use one
that is attractive, and a good fit for the pins on our pianos. I
am now able to offer a range of Friends Specials, to order. The
two at the left have machined shanks, with a slot 4mm x 6.5. This
fits the pins of most square pianos from the earlier part of the
nineteenth century, including most Broadwoods and Clementis. The
two on the right are fabricated, and have custom-made tapered slots up
to a maximum of
6mm x 4 for earlier pianos. The one with the tulipwood handle was made for the 4' pins of my harpsichord, but is also right for a 1777 Kirckman with 4.2mm diameter pins. Handles are available in rosewood, tulipwood, kingwood, ebony, satinwood, or purpleheart. It's best if you can send a pin to be matched, but we will be able to cope if we know the diameter of the pins, and the dimensions of the oblong head. These are available in limited numbers in return for a donation of £30 (plus postage) to my branch of Cats Protection www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough - all materials and labour are freely given. Please contact David on friends.sp@btinternet.com
6mm x 4 for earlier pianos. The one with the tulipwood handle was made for the 4' pins of my harpsichord, but is also right for a 1777 Kirckman with 4.2mm diameter pins. Handles are available in rosewood, tulipwood, kingwood, ebony, satinwood, or purpleheart. It's best if you can send a pin to be matched, but we will be able to cope if we know the diameter of the pins, and the dimensions of the oblong head. These are available in limited numbers in return for a donation of £30 (plus postage) to my branch of Cats Protection www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough - all materials and labour are freely given. Please contact David on friends.sp@btinternet.com
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Our Companion Website -
www.squarepianotech.com
This companion website is hosted by our very good Friend, Tom Strange,
in the USA.
This website has been running for a while now, and more articles are being added to this valuable resource. Please visit! The intention is that this will be a focus for the more technical and permanent aspects of square piano ownership, maintenance, and restoration. Some of the Restoration Reports that have featured on this site in the past will be permanently available, as will chapters about soundboards, hammers, and just about everything else. Of course, this will take time to build up, but it will gradually become a unique resource, and a permanent record of technical data and advice.
In the meantime, the 'Friends' website will continue to feature gossip, rumour and scandal - and possibly the odd piano for sale!
This website has been running for a while now, and more articles are being added to this valuable resource. Please visit! The intention is that this will be a focus for the more technical and permanent aspects of square piano ownership, maintenance, and restoration. Some of the Restoration Reports that have featured on this site in the past will be permanently available, as will chapters about soundboards, hammers, and just about everything else. Of course, this will take time to build up, but it will gradually become a unique resource, and a permanent record of technical data and advice.
In the meantime, the 'Friends' website will continue to feature gossip, rumour and scandal - and possibly the odd piano for sale!
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FRIENDS OF SQUARE PIANOS
is a sort of on-line club for owners, potential owners, and friends of -
Square Pianos!
We are also happy to welcome owners of very old grand pianos – say before about 1837 – as they do not seem to have a website of their own. We hope that you will find something of interest, and also feel free to contribute – please e-mail any questions or contributions to David at friends.sp@btinternet.com
Our aim is to encourage ownership and enjoyment of these historic instruments, and to help owners to keep them in playing condition. There is a special pleasure in playing (and hearing) music played on the instruments for which it was composed.
The picture above is my Ganer of about 1795, after extensive reconstruction of the stand, but before restoration. Please see 'Restoration Diaries' .
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About the 'Webmaster' (David Hackett of Chelveston)
My only claim to respectability is that Carl Dolmetsch once offered to take me on as an apprentice. This was in 1962, when I had just shown him my first clavichord, and been his guest at Haslemere. However, he also advised me that it would be better to go to University, and I accepted his advice. Early Keyboard Instruments have therefore remained a hobby, and since accepting early retirement, I am able to spend a bit more time enjoying them - and encouraging others, I hope..
My real work now is with cats, though - I am a volunteer with my local branch of
Cats Protection.
www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough
Please note that this Paypal link shows my email address as E621@hotmail.com.
This is correct, and is the email by which I am known to Paypal.