We offer a full action repair and reconditioning service, replacing all felts, leathers and springs where needed in consultation with the customer and working within their budget. If desired, the whole action can be replaced with brand new parts, either sourced from Renner in the US, or Abel in Germany. We can also remove all the strings, re-crown and varnish the soundboard, re-gild the cast iron frame, and fit new strings and tuning pins. Here are a series of pictures documenting the process for an Art Case Steinway Model A from 1894.

Here is the piano in it’s original state after purchase for the sum of $18,000. The keys and damper underlevers were cracked and split due to oxidisation of the lead balancing weights, the action was worn, strings were rusty and tubby sounding, the soundboard had cracks and had lost it’s crown, and tuning pins were loose and corroded.

The next step in the process was the rebuilding of the damper underlever assembly. Here is a photo of the original split and broken parts!

After refitting the frame the restringing process began. Before disassembly detailed records had been kept of the various string diameters, positioning of the felt mute strips, and any other positioning issues with the aliquots etc

Here is a picture of the bass strings being made by Lou Parke of Parke Piano Strings in Frenchs Forest

The keys were treated in the same way as the damper underlevers, all the corroded lead being drilled out and the splits and cracks glued and clamped. Each key was then weighed and balanced, with new lead being fitted to provide a perfectly even and accurate feel.

The old balance rail and front rail key bushing were removed, the holes sized with brass accucauls, and new bushing cloth fitted. The keyed pins were polished smooth and coated.

The hammer assembly was then replaced. Here are the hammers in their box:

The final job was to redo the frame lettering! Here is the bass section

Under normal circumstances the stripping and french polishing of the case would be done while the cast iron frame was out of the piano, but because this restoration was done in stages, by the time it was to be polished the stringing and frame gilding had been completed and reinstalled.

This meant everything had to be masked off, and a couple of weeks of hand scraping to remove the finish from the inside of the case next to the frame! The pedal lyre plate was sent off to be re-chromed, and the rest of the outside stripped, sanded, and the grain filled ready for the shellac.

Here are a few photos of the finished job: