The 'Freecycle' Piano in the garage where it was stored. Apologies for the quality of this photo
In it's 'new' temporary home - closed
With front open
With top open
The first piece of the action removed to reveal lots of dirt, dust and spider webs
The treble keys before cleaning
The treble key frame before restoration
Motheaten felts under the keys
A row of hammers
Pitted hammer heads
The treble keys after a thorough clean
Removing the keys from the bass and middle
To reveal even more dirt, dust, spiders and evidence of moths
The cleaned out interior
The bass end of the curved, split bridge
The bass hitchpins
The steel hitchpin and brace
Dampers in urgent need of realignment
The dampers and toggle frame
The serial number, 47847, written in ink on the wrestpin block
Close up of dampers
The shaft of F key no. 1 showing the date 3/4/87 (3rd April 1837)
The shaft of C key no. 56 showing the name F Langley - known to be a final tuner at Broadwood.
The damaged thread of one of the four turned legs
A 'dodgy' hammer hinge
The main keys laid out for cleaning
The bass hitchpins with very dirty underfelt. Clearly some of the strings had been replaced (with the wrong wire)
The end of the sustain pedal shaft, with severely damaged thread and modern makeshift fixing screw
The end of one of the legs. All marked with the number 47512
The bass end of the wrestpin block
The treble end of the wrestpin block, complete with layers of dust and dirt below the strings.
Metal hitchpin and brace
View of the hitchpin, brace and soundboard
View of centre section before restoration
Hitchpin brace
Front flap showing previous hinge position
The case before cleaning
The case after cleaning and two coats of Antique wax polish.
After wax polishing
After was poilishing
Full front view of the six octave keyboard reflecting in the name board
The nameplate - John Broadwood & Sons - Makers to their Majesty's and the Princesses. Great Pulteney Street, Golden Square, London
Case showing end cleaned up ready for the reinstatement of the skirting
New strings being attached to replace the ones that were of incorrect type and guage.
New felt under the bass strings
Part of the sycamore soundboard exposed during re-stringing. An opportunity to clean out most of the dirt.
The entire action removed for restoration in Steve's workshop.
The piano after restoration of the interior and action. Awaiting legs, final tune and thorough final cleaning.
View of the action showing the realigned dampers
The hitchpin and soundboard end after restoraton.
View from the treble end
Legs and sustain pedal fitted, Just the strip along the front of the keyboard to sort now.
With the lid partially closed (low volume)
Close up of the soundboard
View of the Bass end. Note new green felt under the keys. This will be hidden from view by the cover strip.
Closer view of the bass end of the keyboard.
Bass end with original keyboard cover strip lodged in place
The new pedal block
Sustain pedal fixed in place
Leg ready for waxing
One of the two original music rests
Closed before final polishing. You'd never know what lies inside
Rear view
All clean and shiny! Waxed legs and all. And it didn't hurt a bit!
Right view.
Left view.
Completely finished and tuned. Now looking for a new home. Any offers?
View from the right
Full frontal
Close up on keyboard and pedal. Can you spot the only bit of new wood?
Don't you just WANT to play it?
Pierced fretwork above soundboard with red silk backing
The Steel Hitchpin block & brace
The Inside
Finished - soft
The finshed article - loud volume
The Keyboard
Ready to go to it's new home at The Stanhope Collection
