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Restorers
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
Michael Cole www.squarepianos.com
David Hunt www.fortepiano.co.uk
Johannes Secker www.johannes-secker.co.uk
Suppliers
David Law is well-known as a supplier of beautiful brassware. Please visit his website at www.traditional-brassware.co.uk As well as brassware for harpsichords and spinets (with which we may sometimes dally) he makes items for pianofortes, especially 'Viennese', but also including squares. I should mention the bolt-covers (Paterae) and peacock dampers for Broadwoods.
If enough of us ask very nicely, there is a possibility that David might be persuaded to make those simple four-hole lid-hinges that so often fail, and cannot be replaced with modern six-hole drawn-brass hinges. 30mm x 18mm first please, David!
His beautiful tuning hammers also deserve special mention. Cast in bronze, these are pleasure to own, and a joy to use. He can make them to fit any style of pin, and Broadwood owners should note in particular the less-elegant but oh-so-practical option of the offset handle, which does not collide with the lid.
While you are there, do please take a moment to visit his Picture Gallery page. The items featured may not be square pianos, that is true, but there are some lovely instruments - an inspiration to us all.
As well as being a first-class restorer, Lucy Coad is well-known as a supplier of strings, both plain and covered. Her website gives details. www.squarepiano.co.uk
Malcolm Rose is well-known as the leading supplier of authentic iron, brass, and red brass wire for strings. He also supplies covering wires (copper and tinned copper) for overspun strings. His handbook of string tables (written in collaboration with David Law) is invaluable, and he can often offer advice on other instruments. www.malcolm-rose.com
Optimum Brasses make an amazing range of authentic brassware for pianos, and many other antiques. Of special interest to us are castors, peacock dampers*, and bolt-covers ('paterae'). Examples of their paterae may be seen in the top left-hand corner of this page, and also 'Register your Piano'. The ladies who answer the phone were exceedingly patient with me, and ensured that we got the best possible castors for my Rolfe and Ganer projects - leather wheels and all. www.optimumbrasses.co.uk
* These are the brass under-dampers found on Broadwood squares from the beginning until about 1806.
Friends
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
The Clementi Society is run by Jeremy Eskenazi, an enthusiastic Square Piano owner! www.clementisociety.com
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.
Bonhams piano auctions now take place in Knowle. This historic market town is between Birmingham and Warwick, and easily accessible from the M6/M42, as well as by rail and by air (if not by sea). Those of us able to drive there may be tempted to bring a little something home... a trick which was not easy from Bond Street.
www.bonhams.com/pianos
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, the viewings and auctions are fun, and there are some good pubs nearby for lunch! 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
Michael Cole www.squarepianos.com
David Hunt www.fortepiano.co.uk
Johannes Secker www.johannes-secker.co.uk
Suppliers
David Law is well-known as a supplier of beautiful brassware. Please visit his website at www.traditional-brassware.co.uk As well as brassware for harpsichords and spinets (with which we may sometimes dally) he makes items for pianofortes, especially 'Viennese', but also including squares. I should mention the bolt-covers (Paterae) and peacock dampers for Broadwoods.
If enough of us ask very nicely, there is a possibility that David might be persuaded to make those simple four-hole lid-hinges that so often fail, and cannot be replaced with modern six-hole drawn-brass hinges. 30mm x 18mm first please, David!
His beautiful tuning hammers also deserve special mention. Cast in bronze, these are pleasure to own, and a joy to use. He can make them to fit any style of pin, and Broadwood owners should note in particular the less-elegant but oh-so-practical option of the offset handle, which does not collide with the lid.
While you are there, do please take a moment to visit his Picture Gallery page. The items featured may not be square pianos, that is true, but there are some lovely instruments - an inspiration to us all.
I
have just placed a small order by phone with Heckscher & Co, and once again I would like to
commend this well-know supplier on their courtesy and patience with
amateurs. They do recognise the importance of looking after historic
instruments, and are keen to help us to do this.
They also sell some useful things! I depend very much on their range of bushing cloths and box-cloths, which help to ensure that I never haave to use felt. The white box-cloth can easily be home-dyed to 'authentic' red and green shades, and the dyeing process seems to improve the texture from our point of view.
When ordering, it helps very much to quote the item numbers, which are available from their on-line catalogue. www.uk-piano.org/heckscher Heckschers are on 020 - 7387 - 1735 , and telephone orders are no problem with a credit card.
They also sell some useful things! I depend very much on their range of bushing cloths and box-cloths, which help to ensure that I never haave to use felt. The white box-cloth can easily be home-dyed to 'authentic' red and green shades, and the dyeing process seems to improve the texture from our point of view.
When ordering, it helps very much to quote the item numbers, which are available from their on-line catalogue. www.uk-piano.org/heckscher Heckschers are on 020 - 7387 - 1735 , and telephone orders are no problem with a credit card.
As well as being a first-class restorer, Lucy Coad is well-known as a supplier of strings, both plain and covered. Her website gives details. www.squarepiano.co.uk
Malcolm Rose is well-known as the leading supplier of authentic iron, brass, and red brass wire for strings. He also supplies covering wires (copper and tinned copper) for overspun strings. His handbook of string tables (written in collaboration with David Law) is invaluable, and he can often offer advice on other instruments. www.malcolm-rose.com
Optimum Brasses make an amazing range of authentic brassware for pianos, and many other antiques. Of special interest to us are castors, peacock dampers*, and bolt-covers ('paterae'). Examples of their paterae may be seen in the top left-hand corner of this page, and also 'Register your Piano'. The ladies who answer the phone were exceedingly patient with me, and ensured that we got the best possible castors for my Rolfe and Ganer projects - leather wheels and all. www.optimumbrasses.co.uk
* These are the brass under-dampers found on Broadwood squares from the beginning until about 1806.
Friends
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
The Clementi Society is run by Jeremy Eskenazi, an enthusiastic Square Piano owner! www.clementisociety.com
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.
Bonhams piano auctions now take place in Knowle. This historic market town is between Birmingham and Warwick, and easily accessible from the M6/M42, as well as by rail and by air (if not by sea). Those of us able to drive there may be tempted to bring a little something home... a trick which was not easy from Bond Street.
www.bonhams.com/pianos
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, the viewings and auctions are fun, and there are some good pubs nearby for lunch! See you there!
www.pianoauctions.co.uk