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Bechstein MODEL A
A bout the piano: [click on the thumbnails to see larger pictures]
C. Bechstein grand piano (model A), 1.83 meters long , built in 1913 in Berlin (serial number 107148. It has a double repetition Herrburger-Schwander (Paris) action, 85 keys, and 2 pedals.
The restoration work took more than two months, between October and December 2001. this time the piano was in has been polished again in black satin lacquer, as it was originally.
Playing this piano is a very different experience, when compared to my longer Bechstein model V. Right after restoration it had a very pleasant, but more intimate and mellow tone, because it has been played very little throughout it's existence and the hammers are softer. After playing it for nearly two months the tone has brightened considerably.A fter restoration:
A few details of the finished piano. I chose to have it refinished in a semi-gloss black lacquer.
B efore restoration:
That's how the piano looked before we started restoring it. Although the inside, action, strings etc. were in good condition, the case was badly scratched outside and the black lacquer had been worn off some edges. Not to mention the dust that had accumulated for decades inside - cleaning it took hours :-)
[click on thumbnails for a larger picture]
D uring restoration:
The piano has been partly disassembled and stripped of it's old paint. All the parts that didn't need to be lacquered had been covered with tape and plastic foil.
[click on thumbnails for a larger picture]
At the same time the action was taken apart and cleaned thoroughly. Only a few minor repairs were necessary (like gluing two loose hammer heads). Later after the piano was finished, the action has been regulated and the hammers sanded lightly to make the sound brighter. The hammers were quite soft originally, since the piano had been played very seldom.
© Calin
Last update: 14.10.2006
