Scroll down to see the piano restoration process!

About this piano: This piano was built by The Haines Brothers Piano Company in 1935, a time when only a wealthy few could afford the luxury of a baby grand piano.  The original buyer would have gone to great sacrifice in order to possess this baby grand piano during the height of the Great Depression!

This piano is a family piece that was passed down through the generations.  The piano was originally done in a mahogany finish, but the old deteriorated finish had turned dark and scaly over time.  The owners of the piano asked us to do a custom satin black lacquer finish so the piano would better match their homes decor.  The end result was quite beautiful!

Although the sentimental and historical significance makes the instrument an irreplaceable part of the family, the current owners were also able to recognize the musical quality of this heirloom instrument.  The family chose to have it restored and preserved so that it could continue to serve future generations for another century.

Scroll down to see the piano restoration process!

Piano Restoration Process:

Assessment & Disassembly

The piano comes to us in worn original condition and is no longer tunable.  The original legs are damaged and no longer safe to hold the weight of the piano so it is set up on metal shop legs.  The interior of the piano was dirty and deteriorated but still very restorable.  Each individual piece of the piano is disassembled, labeled and recorded.  The beautiful script "HAINES BROS." name label is carefully measured and copied so that an exact duplication can be re-applied after refinishing.  The piano is assessed by our team to determine what parts are to be ordered and what parts will have to be made.

Piano Restoration Process:

Cabinet Repair & Refinishing

The old mahogany finish is removed and the bare wood is restored.  The cabinet is carefully repaired and all broken and missing pieces are repaired and/or replaced.  The case is carefully sealed with multiple coats of lacquer, each coat being painstakingly sanded to ensure the finest luster and patina.  This customer requested a custom satin black lacquer finish on special order rather than going back with an original mahogany finish.

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

The piano action comes to us brittle and dirty with the old felts and leathers deteriorated beyond repair.  The keys and action frame are so dirty that they must be soda blasted to make them clean again.  The piano gets new hammers, shanks, flanges and whippens with all other felt, leather and bushings replaced in the piano.  The original ivory keyboard is repaired and the ivory restored and polished to look brand new again!  After assembly, regulation and tuning, the piano is now ready to be delivered back to it's happy home!

PHOTOS OF PIANO

AFTER COMPLETE RESTORATION

After restoration, the piano looks and plays like it did when it was new, rivaling the tone and touch of a brand new piano! Although the piano was originally done in mahogany, the owners requested the piano be finished in a custom satin black lacquer finish.