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Restorers - UK
There are quite a few professional restorers operating in the UK; those mentioned below are those that I know personally, and who have agreed to be 'linked':
Lucy Coad www.squarepiano.co.uk
Andrew Lancaster www.squarepiano.net
Michael Cole www.squarepianos.com
David Hunt www.fortepiano.co.uk
Johannes Secker www.johannes-secker.co.uk
Andy Durand www.musicroomworkshop.co.uk
David Winston www.periodpiano.com
Restorers - USA
Tim Hamilton Cambridge, Massachusetts email timpianos@yahoo.com
(Tim is English, but has been operating in the USA for a number of years)
Jacob Kaeser www.harpsichordjacks.com As well as making harpischords, Jacob also restores square pianos and will supply parts or assist with projects.
Anne Acker www.annesharpsichords.com is a well-known restorer of pianos from the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth centuries. She is also a harpsichord maker, a player, and a lecturer.
I have been happy to make a few strings (including covered ones) to help Friends with restoration projects. However, although I do not have 'overheads' to cover, it doesn't seem quite right that I should take advantage of this to undercut the Professionals, who are also Friends.
I have therefore decided to agree to do these at realistic prices, with the difference that all the money will go to my favourite charity - Cats Protection. Prices will be:
Plain strings - £4.50 each (possible deals for multiple short iron strings or full sets)
Open covered - £10.50 each.
To make strings, I need to know:
- the total length from hitchpin to wrestpin (I will allow for the winding round the wrestpin)
- the diameter and material
- the eye-length. I can do plain or 'Broadwood' loops.
Open-covered strings are usually brass, with either plain (red) copper or tinned copper windings. Please note that my strings have right-hand helixes - like a normal screw thread. Some pianos have left-handed strings. Acoustically, this does not matter at all, but a mixture can look slightly odd.
If in doubt about material or diameter, I may be able to help. Send the broken one, perhaps? Or for 'new' restorations, we have a data bank.
I'm not really keen on doing close-covered (too stressful) but I could make the effort for the odd one for £15.
Wrestpins will be made to order, and I can do diameters of 4.5, 5.0, 5.6, and 6.0 mm approximately. Lengths as needed. Please note that these are hand-forged, and therefore slightly irregular - just like the real ones! Standard (blue-black) finish £1 each, £1.50 for bright (or you can clean them up yourself!)
So I'll still be out-of-pocket (the materials and labour will be my contribution) but it's possible we can help the cats - see www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough to see what we get up to.
Margaret Debenham is a researcher into aspects of Piano History, especially the London makers around the turn ofthe century, and the Southwell pianos. She often works in collaboration with George Bozarth in the USA. Please see her website www.debenham.me.uk and go to 'New Resources'
The Galpin Society has been established since 1945 for those interested in the history of musical instruments. Also a very good lead to a variety of interesting websites - including this one!
www.galpinsociety.org
Rudolf Haase runs an interesting website about classic pianos (including squares) in Switzerland. www.forte-piano.ch
We owe a great debt to the Auction Houses, who receive us courteously and with understanding. They allow us to study instruments -often historic - before they 'disappear' into private ownership - or even abroad. We do purchase (or even sell) through them occasionally, but very often we are just there to share our enthusiasm, to record detail, and to meet each other.
Piano Auctions Limited run four sales every year at Conway Hall in London, near Holborn. Square pianos are usually well represented, with occasional 'cabinets' and even early grands. Many of the squares sell for 'affordable' prices. We always have an informal meeting of Friends of Square Pianos on the day before the Sale, and enjoy lunch in the nearby Dolphin pub. See you there?
www.pianoauctions.co.uk
There are quite a few professional restorers operating in the UK; those mentioned below are those that I know personally, and who have agreed to be 'linked':
Lucy Coad www.squarepiano.co.uk
Lucy issues an occasional Newsletter, which is packed with interesting updates and pictures.
The current edition carries notes about a Stodart Square piano (pictured above at Piano Auctions, some years ago, before extensive restoration). And also notes about pianos by Ball, Broadwood, and Ganer, and a fascinating collection of original thread-cutters.
To subscribe to Lucy's Newsletter, please go to her website www.squarepiano.co.uk and click on the 'Newsletter' tab.
The current edition carries notes about a Stodart Square piano (pictured above at Piano Auctions, some years ago, before extensive restoration). And also notes about pianos by Ball, Broadwood, and Ganer, and a fascinating collection of original thread-cutters.
To subscribe to Lucy's Newsletter, please go to her website www.squarepiano.co.uk and click on the 'Newsletter' tab.
Andrew Lancaster www.squarepiano.net
Michael Cole www.squarepianos.com
David Hunt www.fortepiano.co.uk
Johannes Secker www.johannes-secker.co.uk
Andy Durand www.musicroomworkshop.co.uk
David Winston www.periodpiano.com
Restorers - USA
Tim Hamilton Cambridge, Massachusetts email timpianos@yahoo.com
(Tim is English, but has been operating in the USA for a number of years)
Jacob Kaeser www.harpsichordjacks.com As well as making harpischords, Jacob also restores square pianos and will supply parts or assist with projects.
Anne Acker www.annesharpsichords.com is a well-known restorer of pianos from the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth centuries. She is also a harpsichord maker, a player, and a lecturer.
******************
Suppliers of Parts and Materials
Strings and Wrestpins
Strings and Wrestpins
I have been happy to make a few strings (including covered ones) to help Friends with restoration projects. However, although I do not have 'overheads' to cover, it doesn't seem quite right that I should take advantage of this to undercut the Professionals, who are also Friends.
I have therefore decided to agree to do these at realistic prices, with the difference that all the money will go to my favourite charity - Cats Protection. Prices will be:
Plain strings - £4.50 each (possible deals for multiple short iron strings or full sets)
Open covered - £10.50 each.
To make strings, I need to know:
- the total length from hitchpin to wrestpin (I will allow for the winding round the wrestpin)
- the diameter and material
- the eye-length. I can do plain or 'Broadwood' loops.
Open-covered strings are usually brass, with either plain (red) copper or tinned copper windings. Please note that my strings have right-hand helixes - like a normal screw thread. Some pianos have left-handed strings. Acoustically, this does not matter at all, but a mixture can look slightly odd.
If in doubt about material or diameter, I may be able to help. Send the broken one, perhaps? Or for 'new' restorations, we have a data bank.
I'm not really keen on doing close-covered (too stressful) but I could make the effort for the odd one for £15.
Wrestpins will be made to order, and I can do diameters of 4.5, 5.0, 5.6, and 6.0 mm approximately. Lengths as needed. Please note that these are hand-forged, and therefore slightly irregular - just like the real ones! Standard (blue-black) finish £1 each, £1.50 for bright (or you can clean them up yourself!)
So I'll still be out-of-pocket (the materials and labour will be my contribution) but it's possible we can help the cats - see www.cats.org.uk/wellingborough to see what we get up to.
Tuning Hammers
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
*****************
Commercial Suppliers
Iron, Brass, and Red Brass Wire for Strings
Malcolm Rose www.malcolm-rose.com
Covered Strings
Friends of Square Pianos - See above
Lucy Coad www.squarepiano.co.uk
Tuning Hammers
Friends of Square Pianos - See above
David Law www.traditional-brassware.co.uk
Hecksher & Co. www.uk-piano.org/heckscher
Hinges and Brasswork
David Law www.traditional-brassware.co.uk
Optimum Brasses www.optimumbrasses.co.uk
'Broadwood' Cloth, Green Silk
Graham Walker www.earlypiano.co.uk
Replacement Threads for Legs
Friends of Square Pianos (1½ x 4tpi only, with matching plates)
Lucy Coad www.squarepiano.co.uk
Andy Durand www.musicroomworkshop.co.uk
Anything Else? Please ask David friends.sp@btinternet.com
Malcolm Rose www.malcolm-rose.com
Covered Strings
Friends of Square Pianos - See above
Lucy Coad www.squarepiano.co.uk
Tuning Hammers
Friends of Square Pianos - See above
David Law www.traditional-brassware.co.uk
Hecksher & Co. www.uk-piano.org/heckscher
Hinges and Brasswork
David Law www.traditional-brassware.co.uk
Optimum Brasses www.optimumbrasses.co.uk
'Broadwood' Cloth, Green Silk
Graham Walker www.earlypiano.co.uk
Replacement Threads for Legs
Friends of Square Pianos (1½ x 4tpi only, with matching plates)
Lucy Coad www.squarepiano.co.uk
Andy Durand www.musicroomworkshop.co.uk
Anything Else? Please ask David friends.sp@btinternet.com
*****************
Friends
Margaret Debenham is a researcher into aspects of Piano History, especially the London makers around the turn ofthe century, and the Southwell pianos. She often works in collaboration with George Bozarth in the USA. Please see her website www.debenham.me.uk and go to 'New Resources'
The Galpin Society has been established since 1945 for those interested in the history of musical instruments. Also a very good lead to a variety of interesting websites - including this one!
www.galpinsociety.org
Rudolf Haase runs an interesting website about classic pianos (including squares) in Switzerland. www.forte-piano.ch
Auctioneers
We owe a great debt to the Auction Houses, who receive us courteously and with understanding. They allow us to study instruments -often historic - before they 'disappear' into private ownership - or even abroad. We do purchase (or even sell) through them occasionally, but very often we are just there to share our enthusiasm, to record detail, and to meet each other.
Piano Auctions Limited run four sales every year at Conway Hall in London, near Holborn. Square pianos are usually well represented, with occasional 'cabinets' and even early grands. Many of the squares sell for 'affordable' prices. We always have an informal meeting of Friends of Square Pianos on the day before the Sale, and enjoy lunch in the nearby Dolphin pub. See you there?
www.pianoauctions.co.uk