Did an inspection on a Wheelock Grand today. It is a family piano that the person is inheriting and he is willing to put a little money ( he mentioned $2k). I think he may be better off doing some minimal work on it and saving up for a
better new or used piano. Anyhow he wants quotes for different scenarios. There are major issues with rusty strings and tuning pins. broken strings in octave 7, some chipped key top front edges, flattened hammers, worn felts etc. The biggest issue by far is loose pin block Samples read 15 inch lbs at F5l 20 at G5; 20 at F7; A1 bass string at 20; F3 at 30 ---- you get the picture. Tone is tinny and hammers are hard with blow distance over 2 inches and hammers at rest sitting on the rest rail. Damper guide rail bushings are loose and/or missing so there is a lot of damper noise, backchecks very, very worn.
So fellow technicians what would you suggest ?
Restringing will cost $$$ as will hammers . I'm thinking the best thing to so is some of the repairs, light filing of hammers and a little needling , rebush the damper guides and use CA glue to juice the pins. Maybe a little cosmetic cleanup on the soundboard etc
The piano looks like it amy have been made by Aeolian . I worked on another Wheelock grand not long ago but it had a totally different trapworks setup and the action slid into place by going up a slight inclined ramp on the keybed.
I did some rough calcs on new strings, hammers etc and came up with a few k because of the labor involved and extent of the deterioration. So what say ye, ladies and gentlemen ? Triage or trash ?
better new or used piano. Anyhow he wants quotes for different scenarios. There are major issues with rusty strings and tuning pins. broken strings in octave 7, some chipped key top front edges, flattened hammers, worn felts etc. The biggest issue by far is loose pin block Samples read 15 inch lbs at F5l 20 at G5; 20 at F7; A1 bass string at 20; F3 at 30 ---- you get the picture. Tone is tinny and hammers are hard with blow distance over 2 inches and hammers at rest sitting on the rest rail. Damper guide rail bushings are loose and/or missing so there is a lot of damper noise, backchecks very, very worn.
So fellow technicians what would you suggest ?
Restringing will cost $$$ as will hammers . I'm thinking the best thing to so is some of the repairs, light filing of hammers and a little needling , rebush the damper guides and use CA glue to juice the pins. Maybe a little cosmetic cleanup on the soundboard etc
The piano looks like it amy have been made by Aeolian . I worked on another Wheelock grand not long ago but it had a totally different trapworks setup and the action slid into place by going up a slight inclined ramp on the keybed.
I did some rough calcs on new strings, hammers etc and came up with a few k because of the labor involved and extent of the deterioration. So what say ye, ladies and gentlemen ? Triage or trash ?
![Lookup Lookup](/uploads/1/2/6/8/126876996/285819776.jpg)
Piano Prices By Serial Number
Wheelock Piano Company
![Serial Serial](/uploads/1/2/6/8/126876996/268592652.jpg)
New York State 1789 - 1911. Throughout the piano manufacturing boom of the 19th century, the majority of piano manufacturing companies and factories in the state of New York were established within the city of New York. This gallery will show some of the antique instruments we currently have available for sale, as well as instruments we have restored and sold in the past. If you are buying or selling an upright or grand piano, discover the prices of new pianos or current resale market value of used pianos, ANY BRAND, RIGHT NOW.
Emerson Piano Serial Numbers
Certificate in Piano Technology NBSSP
Associate Member PTG
Yamaha & Petrof/Nordiska Training
Dampp-Chaser System Installer
QRS/ Pianomation Service
Certified Piano Disc Technician/Installer
Associate Member PTG
Yamaha & Petrof/Nordiska Training
Dampp-Chaser System Installer
QRS/ Pianomation Service
Certified Piano Disc Technician/Installer