ABOUT THIS PIANO: The Baldwin Piano Company was one of the finest and most successful piano manufacturers in American history. Musical greats like Lawrence Welk and Liberace used Baldwin pianos exclusively because of their exceptional quality.
Built in 1933, this piano would have been sold new during the height of the Great Depression, a time when few could afford such an extravagant luxury. This piano was inherited by the adult grandchildren of an elderly lady who was an avid pianist all her life. The instrument lived most of its life in a rural historic home with no climate control and was used on a daily basis. Despite being exposed to extremes in heat, cold and humidity for decades, the instrument held up to hard use and remained mostly functional prior to restoration – a real testament to the quality that Baldwin put into their pianos in the early 20thCentury!
This piano is a Baldwin Model M baby grand, one of Baldwin’s most popular models for professional home use. The Model M baby grand was often used by piano teachers and professional musicians alike who wanted a performance quality instrument that was small enough for the home. This piano was originally sold in a natural mahogany finish, but had been painted black many years ago in order to improve the look of the faded old mahogany finish. The heirs who inherited the piano had the instrument restored back to its original Honduran mahogany finish so that the instrument looks and sounds like it did when it was built over 80 years ago!
Piano Restoration Process:
Assessment & Disassembly
Years of constant use and little climate control has taken its toll on this Baldwin baby grand piano. The interior of the piano was dirty and deteriorated with evidence of rodent damage, yet because of the quality of the instrument, was still playable despite its deplorable condition! The piano was painted black many years ago, but the beautiful Honduran Mahogany wood will once again show through the the piano is refinished back to it’s natural color.
Piano Restoration Process:
Cabinet Repair & Refinishing
This piano was originally sold as a natural mahogany finish, but the instrument was painted black many years ago. The black paint was carefully removed and the mahogany wood was repaired, re-glued and carefully sanded. Multiple coats of mahogany stain, sealer and lacquer were applied to make the piano look like it did when it was new during the Great Depression!.
Piano Restoration Process:
Soundboard Repair & Re-Stringing
The old brittle strings were dirty and lifeless, making the piano sound “tubby” before restoration. The strings and harp were removed and the old-growth wood soundboard restored and refinished. The harp was re-gilded with gold lacquer and a new pin block was made for long-term tuning stability. The new strings were installed and the piano looks like brand new inside!
Piano Restoration Process:
Action & Keyboard Restoration
Because the piano received constant use with no climate control, the original ivory keys cracked and came loose from the keys. The ivory was too far gone to restore, so new faux-ivory keys were installed. The felt and leather were replaced and the piano action was restored.
Photos of Piano
After Complete Restoration
After restoration, the piano looks, plays and sounds like it did when it was built during the Great Depression. The original color and finish applied to the imported Honduran Mahogany wood gives the piano a formal and elegant appearance overall. Like most Baldwin pianos from the early 20th Century, this piano has an impressive tone quality that was brought back to life through professional restoration.
