Hand Hammer Re-covering Europiano Congress The Octave Crusher August 2009
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Editorial — 4 President Writes — 5 Membership News — 6 Retail Tails — 10 Ralph and Jean Long — 11 Sales Encouragement Scheme — 11 Students’ Pages — 12 Hand Hammer Re-covering — 14 The Octave Crusher — 17 Europiano Congress — 20 Book Review — 24 Letters — 25 PTA Diary — 27
For your advertising in PTA News, at very reasonable rates, please contact: Tania Staite, Flat 8, Deepdene, 15 Streatham Common Northside, London, SW16 3HQ. Copy may then be emailed to the Editor at:[email protected]
The next deadline for PTA News is by an SAE. Please obtain the necessary permission Friday 18th September 2009. before submitting copyrighted items. PTA News PTA News is the Newsletter for the Pianoforte Cobblestones Tuners’ Association. All views expressed are those of Church Lane the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the Great Holland views of the PTA or the editorial team. FRINTON-ON-SEA Please address letters intended for publication to Essex CO13 0JS ‘The Editor’, preferably sent via email, computer disk [email protected] or typed. Items can only be returned if accompanied
August 2009 3 Welcome to the August PTA Editorial News! Firstly, I must thank everyone who has Matthew Gough sent in articles. It makes PTA News a much more diverse and interesting read than even speak to another would be the case if I had to create lots of tuner if you chose not to. articles myself. So thanks again but please At college I would never don’t stop! Whether you are a regular have dreamt that this could ever be the case. contributor or just want to send in a one-off We were a pretty close group who mixed story or letter I can tell you that I know socially as well as at College. One of our your contribution is most definitely read number was Peter Wood, an excellent chap and valued by the membership as well as with a good sense of humour. I had many a by me! good laugh with Pete, a fair few pints and a Included in this issue is a very good old sing song. We used to play our interesting review of a hand hammer guitars at lunchtimes in a quiet college re-covering course at Finchcocks in Kent, a stairwell where no one could hear us report from our President on the Europiano singing Lindisfarnes’ ‘Meet Me On The Convention held in Prague and a piece Corner’ song; thankfully so! about the Golden Wedding of Jean and Pete was also a fantastic tuner. More Ralph Long, which included 3 past PTA often than not he came first in all the Presidents amongst the happy revellers! Tuning Tests and was certainly the man to Ralph has been a member of the PTA beat. for very many years and an active one at Although at one time a PTA Student that. I am always surprised when I hear who attended the odd convention, Pete members leaving with the criticism that the never took his PTA Test and rather PTA ‘isn’t value for money’. disappeared from view from most of us. I I suppose the material value depends on last saw him ten years ago at a ‘reunion’ one’s circumstances. For myself I find that where he looked happy and settled. How I the free Public Liability Insurance (which wish I’d stayed in touch because as you will most of us should have by law), low read later in this issue he died last year, far advertising rates through the Yellow Pages too young at the age of 48. Corporate Scheme and the extra customers It’s so easy to lose touch and although I that the standing of being a PTA Member don’t see many of my old college chums as bring, makes the subscription fee well often as I should, at least those of us worth it on their own. associated with the PTA still have that Then there’s the educational benefits. connection between us. Maybe we Seminars, such as the Steinways Seminar occasionally see our names on the Pianolist, on 26th September, classes at the PTA catch up with each other at a PTA Convention and the almost instantaneous Convention or see a photo or letter in PTA advice or solutions to technical queries or News. This brings back the memories and workshop problems available through the helps keep the contact. ‘pianolist’, the PTA’s Internet forum. Well worth it I’d say. To me, almost as important as all these Happy Tuning..... benefits is the feeling of ‘belonging’ in a profession in which you could easily never
4 The President Writes I would like Brian Frost to start by congratulating Matthew Gough on his excellent first edition as Editor PTA Secretary an e-mail or leave a message on the of PTA News. Thank you to office number. Someone will everyone for their contributions and then be in touch and guide you through the well done Matthew! process. As mentioned in the last issue of PTA I am delighted to report that The News, Derek Love of The Piano Workshop Association of Blind Tuners was elected a in Reigate hosted ‘Meet the PTA’ event at member of Europiano at the recent his rather smart new showroom in Reigate Europiano Annual General Meeting in the on June 5th. It is never easy to predict how Czech Republic (see my article in this issue much interest one of these evenings will of PTA News). I look forward to attending muster, but I am delighted to report that the November delegate’s meeting in there were four tuners who expressed a Frankfurt along with a colleague from the serious interest in joining the Association. ABPT. Thanks Derek for enabling this to happen. If you would like to run a similar event they are really easy to set up; just send the
PIANO TUNING SURVEY
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If you are a Piano Tuner working in the UK, please take the time to complete a short survey put together by an independent researcher. The survey’s aim is to look at the future of the piano tuning industry by analysing those working in the field today. This survey also provides an opportunity for professionals to write their comments, opinions and suggestions on this topic. All information collected is anonymous and strictly confidential, and falls under the terms and conditions of Data Protection Act. If you are interested and you have access to the Internet please go to the link, http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=2ecnkukiikztb6c620027
Alternatively, you can email Lilly at [email protected] to organise a paper survey sent to your business address or if you’d prefer a telephone interview can be arranged. Thank you for your cooperation and time!
August 2009 5 Please check Membership News your entries in the new 2009 Year Annette Summers Book. If there are any amendments or you have not received a Year Book please contact Annette, details p.27
We welcome our newest Member: 1210 Mr Rupert Frost, Richard Reason Pianos, 94 Tilehouse Street, HITCHIN, Herts SG5 2DW Tel: 01462 454244
Here are changes to note from the 2009 Year Book:
1209 Mr Cliff Sanders e-mail address: [email protected] Postal address: 3 Little Thrift, Petts Wood, ORPINGTON Kent BR5 1NQ
S278 Mr Andrew Dawes Flat 5, 12 Campden Road, CROYDON CR2 7EN
1155 Mr Paul Cray New Landline Tel: 01986 895175
1162 Shelley Duncan e-mail: [email protected]
S307 Fran Overbury e-mail: [email protected]
S304 Mr G Elliott 12 Guildown Avenue, Finchley LONDON N12 7DQ Tel: 020 84460983 Mobile: 07903 483987 e-mail: [email protected]
1077 David Goldwag 2 Alma Close, Hatherley, CHELTENHAM GL51 3NA
995 Neil Hoggan Durham Lodge, Gordon Road, CROWBOROUGH East Sussex TN6 1EW Tel: 01892 652606
A66 Eri Onami Flat E 6/F, Twighlight Court, 2 Caperidge Drive, Discovery Bay, HONG KONG
1057 Adrian Carpenter e-mail: [email protected]
You should find a booking form for a trip to the Renner Factory, Stuttgart in the envelope with this Newsletter. Please take a look since this promises to be an excellent trip!
6
PTA CONVENTION - Hereford, May 2009
Fletcher and Newman Fletcher and Newman A pensive Steve Cook awaits That’s better! Plenty of punters customers on his impressive stand and a full order book.
TOP QUALITY USED MODERN JAPANESE PIANOS supplied to piano tuners at trade prices commission paid for introductions
Yamaha model Ul, U2 ,U3, U7, AUX, 101 uprights
Other makes, Atlas Apollo Toyo etc. all at very competitive prices
Telephone Ian Hewitt on 01283 565869 and discuss how to make your business more profitable. Polyester polishing and cabinet repairs undertaken
8 PTA CONVENTION - Hereford, May 2009 After last month’s photo frenzy, PTA News wanted to give some more thanks to all our exhibitors and supporters. We couldn’t do it without you! Here’s a couple more snaps with them in mind.
Barry Caradine Piano Specialist Heckscher and Company Barry and Roberta completely rebuilt Graham Williams shows some of this beautiful Bluthner Aliquot strung Grand. Heckschers goodies to PTA delegates It looked and sounded fantastic. at Hereford BROADWOODS Can provide detailed information about their grand, upright or square pianos made from the year 1817. Usually we can confirm the date of manufacture, the name and address of the first purchaser and provide outline technical details of each instrument. FOR FURTHER DETAILS PHONE (01580) 212713
John Broadwood & Sons Ltd. ESTABLISHED 1728 Finchcocks, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 1HH.
August 2009 9 Only four or five years ago Retail Tails the little All Change At Brooklands..a Lament Brooklands Kevin Brice Pianos workshop would have had up to five forever, a sad space on the people, plus Josh my border collie, draining board and an empty coat hook fighting for their own space to work in. are all that remain. Or lie down in, if you were the dog. OK, I’ve pulled myself together now. You might imagine that I, being owner Last but not least, it turns out that Ralph, and Managing Director, would have pride my own flesh and blood, had not the of place and therefore some respect faintest intention of carrying on in the accorded to me. Fat chance, squashed into workshop when it dawned on him that my desk, my executive leather chair (not) going out tuning at £55 a time (less my constantly being brushed past and my cut of course) was a better deal than choice of radio station ignored. This latter piddling about in his dad’s emporium for point being demonstrated by comments a few quid an hour. Never mind that it from Bob the french polisher, while I took thirty five years, my life’s work, to might be listening to a Vaughan Williams build up my business and that I spent four symphony, which would usually go years training him. I dunno, there’s something like “oy, what’re we listening something wrong with these kids wanting to ‘ere? Radio six an’ an‘arf?” to be comfortable. In my day we were Trevor, who’d been working with me happy to earn one and six a week, take for thirty years, might be arguing with my half a day’s holiday a year, and we had to son Ralph about who’s going to work on doff our caps to the boss when he came in the tidiest bench and Karl, whilst getting the room, or was that in that film I saw on in Bob’s way, would loudly accuse Christmas Eve with Alistair Sim? everyone else that they weren’t doing Anyway, it all adds up to me being their jobs the way he would. Implying, of alone in the shop like a ……..well, a course, like we all do that “our” way is lonely thing, like a Wordsworth cloud the best way (see the plist for above a sea of daffodils. Ah, it’s just not confirmation). the same and because there’s no-one to These days, however, things are rather help me anymore and I’ve had to scale different. Bob has retired, only lured out things down I somehow feel adrift from from his potting shed occasionally by the the cut and thrust of the high life of big odd touching-up job, cash only. Karl is business, the corporate entertaining on the retired too, being …..old. No…..ancient yacht and jetting off to foreign soil to tie would be a better description (Steve up lucrative piano deals. Cooke is always amazed when I tell him Alright, I made that last bit up. But, that he’s still alive). Even the dog’s too you know, it feels like I’m doing a long in the tooth to come to the shop now. hundred jobs in the shop, most of them Trevor, perhaps the biggest loss to me, involving general organisation, retired from his main job as a postman or communications and petty bureaucracy mail delivery operator or whatever they which I don’t care for, leaving very little call them these days. Needing to work full time to do what I should be doing and time, a nasty shock to a postman, he had what I love doing……working on pianos! to take his tea mug and apron away 10 On 4th April this year, Jean and Ralph Long celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with family and friends at the Somer Centre, Midsomer Norton. A great time was had by all, and amongst the gathered throng were three PTA Past-Presidents and one of the UKs best concert technicians. Many congratulations to Ralph and Jean, who retired to Midsomer Norton a little while ago. The people around the table, from left to right, are Malcolm McKeand, Gill and myself, Lewis Flisher and Mary and Des Smeaton. Les Sherlock Sales Encouragement Scheme
We are pleased to announce that commission has been paid by the following piano dealer under the PTA Piano Sales Encouragement Scheme:
J. REID AND COMPANY 184 ST. ANNE’S ROAD LONDON N15 TELEPHONE: 020 800 6907
August 2009 11 STUDENTS’ PAGES If you’re a student, graduate or are just starting out then this section is for you Who is the patron saint of pianos? course is run here, but there seems to be plenty …St. Einway! :o) Thought I’d start with of pianos to go round! I’ve advertised a little and a bad joke, so this can only improve! my godson designed my website Hello, I’m Fran and I graduated from (www.pianotuning.org.uk) but I can honestly say Newark Piano School two years ago with the that word of mouth has been my biggest source Diploma and ASET 3 CCMIT certificate thingy. of work. I still keep a part time position working I’ve been to quite a few Conventions now so for Balderton Parish Council, but generally we most of you will probably have met me. I’m one earn enough not just to survive but to get away of the few people actually from Newark to take as much as we can in our beloved camper van. the Piano Tuning course there. I now live in I love my job and I don’t think many people Balderton (village right next to Newark) with my nowadays can honestly say that. I still get a bit partner Ian who is an Upholsterer and our two nervous when I go to new tunings which keeps crazy cats, working for myself as a Piano Tuner life exciting, but I love meeting new and unusual and Technician. people. I am also aware that I am constantly In my pre-piano life I studied English learning new skills, facts, and ways to deal with Literature at UEA Norwich, had a year out situations. I have a marvellous network of tuner travelling to New Zealand, Australia and friends now, many of whom I met in the PTA, Southern Africa, came back to live with my who I know I can call on for their revered parents (which drove me bonkers!) and took wisdom if I get stuck in a pickle! Thanks Bricey! several soul destroying jobs... some of the jobs ;o) were actually quite well paid with bosses who To finish with I thought I would share with didn’t really notice or care if I wasn’t there, you my strangest telephone call to date and my didn’t know my purpose, and gave me endless top 5 list of random items found inside budgets with which I could fulfil all my customers’ pianos, and this is just two years into stationery desires! I am sure this sounds like the trade. Who knows what thrilling oddities the some people’s dream desk job, nevertheless for future may hold! me it was a soulless, boring existence and I 1: Hammer shank repaired with pink quickly decided that this life was most definitely drinking straw not not not for me. 2: Monkey nut shells under the keys As soon as I discovered piano tuning it felt 3: Locked padlock wedged between right in every sense; it was practical, traditional, hammers (no key!) musical, varietous (is that a word?), geeky, 4: Yellow ‘Connect Four’ playing piece personable and I could be my own boss! I knew 5: 4th birthday card discovered 30 years late it was a risk for me to return to education and retrain, my dad thought it was fantastic but my mum was a little bit sceptical. Fortunately it all worked out and now I don’t live with my parents (yay!), and I have my own house and business. During college breaks I went on work experience with Aidan Simms, a brilliant piano tuner and restorer in Whitby and he helped me loads with advice and ideas for when I was eventually ready to ‘go it alone’. Setting up my business in and around Newark has been lovely Call at 11.50pm: and quite smooth which has surprised a lot of Emergency! Panicking lady telephones me people. There is a presumption that there must asking how to open the bottom door of her piano be a lot of competition around as the college as her cat has got stuck! Fran to the rescue :o)
12 COOL TOOLS STUDENTS PAGES GRAND KEY EASING PLIERS Apart from being really handy to ease the key bushings on Grand Pianos without having to take out the action, the great thing about these posh pliers is that they have ‘parallel action’. Some other pliers squeeze the top part of the key bushings more so than the bottom because they lack ‘optimum parallelility’ (is that a known phrase? If not I patent it!). I’ve never found a need to have separate ‘upright’ key easing pliers. With a little care, the Grand version works well on both the vertically as well as horizontally inclined (just right for students).
What they don’t tell you at college! WHICH DIRECTION?
Many students leave college expecting to start up a round tuning pianos for their own customers. It’s not the only option though. What about working for a ‘big cheese’ like Steinways, Bosendorfers or any of the others? Some leave college and start off by being employed by piano or music shops. At least your work is usually organised for you — not too many evenings on the phone chasing tunings! Maybe you’d like to start a shop selling new or reconditioned pianos. If there’s somebody on your course that you work well with, why not contemplate going into such a business with them. If you decide your own tuning and repair business is the best thing for you, have you thought about buying a round? They do come up for sale and even if it means a relocation it may very well be a sensible move, especially if you live in a less populated area. It took me a good five years to build up anything like a decent living. Even if you’ve only just started your course it’s well worth thinking about your possible future direction now. It saves you just falling into any old situation that may come along once you’re qualified. Make sure you stay subscribed to the good ol’ PTA for all the help and advice it can give you. Directional Pointers If you want your own round start building it up as soon as you are able If you want to be employed contact local shops early and work for them in holidays Make friendly contacts with Tuners and Shops in your area Get a cash flow forecast going and plan your business Consider staring up with a friend from college if you want to start a shop Consider buying a round–PTA NEWS sometimes runs such adverts Stay subscribed to the PTA- it’s an invaluable and helpful resource Please keep sending in your articles and photos and enjoy the summer ! August 2009 13 Hand Hammer Re-covering Course at Finchcocks Tania Staite
Not ideal timing, having just arrived piano repertoire of the 18th and 19th back from two weeks working up north centuries originally sounded. late the night before, but I was determined So to the objective of the weekend — not to miss the two day course with to recover a set of hammers on an 8'4" Christopher Clarke at Finchcocks the Erard grand no: 9772, made in London in other week. 1866. As is common in grands of this For those not familiar with Finchcocks, period, it is straight strung and, predating treat yourselves one day. It is the iron frames (some way off in European magnificent setting for an extensive instruments), incorporating four iron bars, collection of early pianos, together with a bracing the wrest plank and hitch plate. fair few significant early keyboards. The casework is veneered in burred The house amboyna wood (botanically known as (completed in Pterocarpus Indicus); a timber from the 1725) is East Indies and one of which I had never situated at the heard. This beautiful case is inlaid with end of an geometric bandings in burr walnut and almost mile- maple. Altogether an exceedingly long drive; handsome instrument. surrounded by We were an idyll of enormously wooded privileged to farmland, in the exquisite little Kentish have village of Goudhurst. Richard Burnett, Christopher pianist; entrepreneur; leading exponent of Clarke over the early piano and deliciously eccentric, from France bought the property in a derelict state and, for the after five years of extensive restoration, weekend. opened the Finchcocks collection to the Diminutive in public in 1976; a collection comprising stature, with hair like an explosion in a around a hundred instruments; forty of mattress factory, he has the air of a mad which, at present are in fully playing professor. He has an exceedingly order. What I find particularly appealing illustrious cv - beginning his career in about the collection is that, unlike the piano restoration and conservation at current museum ethos of conservation, Germanisches National Museum, Richard Burnett has chosen restoration; Nürnberg; moving on to assistant curator bringing these beautiful instruments back of the Russell Collection, Edinburgh to life and giving both player and listener (1971) and on to Finchcocks to become a wonderful insight into how the great their first curator in 1974. He has been resident in France for over thirty years,
14 conserving and restoring early pianos, as calipers. The new hammer coverings well as making fine replica instruments. were then hand cut and chamfered. Anyway, So to the machine, which was not back to the without its teething problems. However, plot. after trial and Christopher error, it Clarke has finally came just into its own. completed The machine making a is operated hand with a foot hammer- pedal, to covering which is machine - a attached the replica of a curiously half size model of weights, such a machine by Pinet, exhibited at the which Musée de la Paris. This extraordinary determine the piece of engineering in itself is quite tension beautiful. applied to the Having felt covering, when the pedal is released; the quite a lethal piece of kit it proved to be— methodical not for the faint-hearted. After background experimentation, we discovered 15 kilos of a museum of tension curator, Mr. was Clarke, sufficient for having most of the removed all compass, the hammers, increasing to then proceeded to scan every one, in order 25 kilos in to have an exact record of the hammers in the bass. their original state. We, the eleven keen The apprentices (including Lucy Coad, herself obvious a distinguished square piano restorer and advantage of conserver, and Chris Nobbs, Early this mechanism is consistent tension, thus Keyboard Technician at the Royal making the Academy of Music) then painstakingly voicing of removed the original hammer felts (on the guide C#s), leaving the leather instrument undercoverings intact. Therefore considerably steaming was not an option. This proved simpler. to be an extremely laborious procedure. Christopher The original hammer coverings were then has made a measured and the thickness at the nose very neat jig and the tail ends were measured with (from pear-
August 2009 15 Finchcocks Recovering Continued wood) for hammer felt trimming, which (al fresco) Chris brought over, whilst proved very successful. basking in the early Sunday evening Once the trials were completed, we sunshine. However, our mentor remained replaced these, together with the adjacent for the week and was able to complete the Cs and returned the action to the piano to job with the assistance of Chris Nobbs. hear the Since Christopher Clarke’s return to difference France, Alastair Laurence (present curator between the at Finchcocks) has faced and voiced the before and hammers, in preparation for a recording after. I am by the Russian pianist, Natalia delighted to Strelchenko, who will be performing say the works by a Norwegian composer, improvement Tellefsen; a pupil of Chopin. was I returned to Finchcocks yesterday to considerable. hear the fully prepared instrument; a This is as far as we progressed by the transformation from that very tired end of the weekend. We, of course had to sounding piano I heard a few weeks ago. allow time to consume the fantastic In fact, a very satisfying coda to an French wines, beers and cheeses exceedingly worthwhile weekend.
PTA QUIZ Since there were errors in the recent quiz, some revealed only by Paul Fox participants rather than me seeing them after the event, it's not at all it in the email folder into which the surprising that the best error was saved until the end. others were coming and for some The result published in the last unknown reason (not even known PTANL showed that Andrew to me!) I simply overlooked this Giller won the quiz with a superb entrant at the end. total of 47/50. It was with some So, belatedly, a metaphorical surprise that I received an email pat on the back must go to Hilary after the last issue went out Martin for scoring 49/50! Quite wondering why a certain tuner had some total I think. been missed off the Top Ten list. YOUR prize should have Funnily enough, when his set of reached you by now so if you can answers were received, I could see come out from under the that he had a high score (though I headphones for one brief second, didn't check the number) and I left "WELL DONE!"
16 The Octave Crusher Have you ever Marianne Bailey wondered what your tools could reveal about you? Most of us in this business have However, there was acquired a wonderful selection of tools one tool that I could not both ancient and modern. Some are identify and just couldn’t think of a use for. expensive, new and designed-for-purpose It was wooden and home made, shaped like technology and some are home-made an oversized cupboard door handle with implements fashioned from anything to protruding legs. The surfaces were worn hand to perform a specific task. My own smooth with use, and the maker had gone spring bender, for example, made for me to the trouble of decorating the top with by a friend is something I could not do mother-of-pearl so it was obviously without, and I am sure we all have treasured. similarly personal tools. But what was it for? I kept returning to This came to mind recently when, on this mystery tool, and would continue to do behalf of the Pianoforte Tuners’ so over the next few days. It intrigued me. Association, I evaluated a toolkit belonging What on earth was it, that had been used so to a piano tuner who died last year. I regularly to perform the same process I do, happen to be the member who lives nearest day in day out, and yet I didn’t recognise to his brother, Trevor Willis. it? We met in the car park of the publisher Maybe another tuner would know. I where Trevor works and as he handed over posted a couple of pictures on the Plist, the the tools he told me a little about his discussion forum for the PTA. A few ideas brother, Pete; that he had died little more came in, but nothing seemed to fit. Then, a than a year ago aged 47 of a brain tumour, more interesting response arrived – “that surviving just over a year after diagnosis; looks like Pete Wood’s octave crusher! He that he had been a keen walker and was had a problem with his hand and couldn’t first taken ill in the Black Mountains of span an octave” – from someone who had South Wales on a walking holiday with trained with him. I picked up the tool again friends. and went to my own piano; balanced I spread the tools out on the kitchen comfortably in my hand the span was table when I got home and set about the exactly an octave, the legs just deep task of making an inventory. At first sight enough to play the two outer notes and it there was nothing exceptional — they must almost drew itself to the keyboard so have been a complete mystery to his family perfect was it for its designed use; almost but to another tuner these were just the as if it remembered what it was for and ordinary tools of the trade; anonymous and was relieved to be doing it again. That mundane. Plus lots of odds and ends must be the answer; whoever owned this essential for the running repairs we tool must also have had some kind of encounter so often; part sets of tapes, problem with their hands. endless fiddly springs, the boxes full of The final piece in the jigsaw finally odd screws and washers which we all have dawned on me; my assumption that Trevor – because you never know, they may come Willis’s brother was called Pete Willis was in handy one day. incorrect. Trevor’s mum had remarried and his brother’s name was Wood. Continued..... August 2009 17 The Octave Crusher Continued.....
I posted the news of Pete’s death on the walking. Their mum was 80 this July, and Plist. Immediately, two responses came she and Trevor marked the occasion by back from colleagues who had known Pete going back there so she could walk in her but had no idea he had died. Later on, I son’s footsteps. rang Trevor to tell him about the octave The subject turned to pianos. Pete had crusher and its purpose, and about these worked extensively on Faziolis and reactions to the news of his death. whenever Trevor interviews concert He told me that Pete had a problem pianists he always asks their opinion of with his tendons in his hand and therefore them. couldn’t open his hands wide enough to Peter had a natural facility for picking play an octave. He was, he said, surprised up a tune and was self-taught on the piano, at how emotional the news that someone with a repertoire especially of jazz and remembered Pete from college had made boogie-woogie songs which he would dip him feel; and he knew his mother would be into after tuning a client’s piano to leave equally touched. Although he wasn’t a the best impression. The whole family pianist, Pete was an accomplished guitarist, have a love of music and Trevor reviews left-handed, and had painstakingly learned concerts for his newspaper. He and his a few piano pieces to play after tuning to wife came to a concert in Manchester look the complete professional and had recently which I also went to and we drank played them well despite the restriction of a toast to his brother. his hands. I never met Pete, but through the oddly, The operation, ultimately unsuccessful, but I like to think, defiantly-named octave that Pete had to try to remove his tumour crusher, I have learned a little of his story; had left him even more sensitive to sound – his life, the louder noises, sometimes even the normal tragedy of his hubbub, would be physically painful for early death him so piano tuning, in addition to not and the being allowed to drive, was out of the courage Pete question, although he did try to and his recommence his career. family Trevor recalled a holiday they had showed in together last year, just the two of them. coming to They went in search of silence and found it terms with it. in the hills of the Cevennes in the South of Who would have thought an old tool, France; Pete was very determined to defy which could so easily have been discarded, his fate at that time and still able to go would reveal so much?
Petes’ brother, Trevor has very kindly checked over the above article and has written the piece on the next page. Thank you so much Trevor and very best wishes to you and all your Family 18 Peter Wood died at the Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton on February 17, 2008. He was 47. He left three children, Rachel, now 17, Lauren 15, and Evie, 12. His death came some 14 months after an operation at Oxford’s Radcliffe Infirmary to try to remove a tumour at the front of his brain. Unfortunately the cancer was of the most aggressive kind. It came to light while he was on a walking trip to the Black Mountains in South Wales with friends, who became alarmed and had him admitted to Merthyr Tydfil Hospital. Peter qualified as a piano tuner at the then London College of Furniture between 1984-88. His first job involved working with Fazioli pianos at their Cristofori London outlet. As he became established, he took over the contract to tune the school and college keyboards of Surrey County Council. He was based in Chiswick during the week but at weekends travelled back to his home town of Northampton where his domestic and social life was still centred. After he met his partner, he moved to the nearby village of Bugbrooke, and it was during this time that his daughters were born. In 2002, the relationship ended and Peter, unable to continue his business in London, moved back to Northampton. He worked in various jobs and was just beginning to re-establish himself as a piano tuner in Northampton when he was taken ill. Peter’s two remaining brothers and his mother would like to thank those people who got in touch to express their sorrow at his death, their fond memories of him, and for solving a mystery; his ‘famous octave crusher’ is indeed having its moment of fame. Trevor Willis
The Editor would like to apologise that due to a crammed full edition, the promised article by John Spice has not appeared in this issue. It will appear in the next issue. It’s well worth waiting for though! It follows his training at the Northern Poly in 1951 and John’s first memories of the piano trade. Read it in October.
August 2009 19 Following the PTA’s Europiano Congress successful Convention in Hereford I had the Czech Republic pleasure of travelling to Brian Frost- PTA President the Czech Republic to attend the Europiano (EP) Congress and piano manufacture. There was AGM, which for 2009 was hosted by the lots of new equipment in evidence, and Czech Piano Association. Held every the sort of computer controlled machinery three years it is always interesting to see one has come to expect in a modern piano how the various EP Members run these factory. We were explained the events. difference between C. Bechstein pianos The main part of the Congress was and those bearing just the name Bechstein. held in Hradec Králové, in eastern Academy Bechstein pianos, together with Bohemia, a medium size town about 100 C. Bechstein, are made at their miles from Prague. I travelled with my Seifhennersdorf plant in Germany. colleague, fellow PTA member and friend However, some processes are carried out Ken Forrest. Thanks to the greatly in the Czech Republic as the factories are subsidised Czech public transport system, not very far apart geographically, and and Ken’s tenacity, we were able to travel there is a close synergy between the two so many miles from the airport to the plants. Academy Bechstein pianos are Congress hotel for under £15 – for both of made for the ‘budget’ end of the market, us! This was far cheaper than the £100 and materials and parts are sourced from taxi fare we had been quoted and the route throughout the world enabling the price to I would have taken if I had travelled alone. be kept comparatively low. C. Bechstein, A welcome dinner and speeches took on the other hand, are still made with the up the first evening. The programme for highest quality materials and completed in Wednesday morning required us to be on Germany. C. Bechstein Europe also make our coach by 8am for a very well W. Hoffman Vision and the Tradition organised tour lasting the whole day. We series pianos in the same factory, and started at the recently acquired Bechstein have made the Bohemia range in the factory in Czech Republic as well. About 2,400 Hradec pianos a year are made on this site. Králové. An hour’s drive took us to the Pilníkov Pianos have factory, the last remaining major iron been manufactured here by a new company, C.Bechstein Europe, for the past two years, although pianos have been made on the site since 1998. The factory was originally built to manufacture agricultural machinery so it is very spacious and lends itself very well for foundry to produce cast iron piano frames
20 in Europe. They make about 3000 frames welcomed here, and with free tuition and here per year, but their main market is greatly subsidised living costs it would be ornamental iron work, and we were a wonderful place to study, the only shown replacement cast iron street lamps drawback being that the course is taught that are to be used in refurbishing King in Czech! There is, however, a crash Charles Bridge in Prague. Sadly no course in learning the language if you casting was taking place the day of our know of anyone who would like to study visit, but it was still a fascinating place to there. Even with the huge subsidies the see — especially as it is where such an course gets they still struggle to find important part of a modern piano starts its enough students, and there are only five in life. I think it would be true to say that training at present. the factory The day’s tour finished with a visit to probably the Petrof factory itself. Although Petrof has not has scaled down production they still changed make 3000 uprights and 700 grands every much since year. Yes they do build some kitchen it started furniture, and hi-fi speaker cabinets, but producing this is still very much a piano factory. My cast iron perception is that as output has fallen products in Petrof is really trying to improve its the 19th product. There was much evidence of Century, and is still very ‘low tech’ while money being spent on research and producing some wonderful castings. development, enabling Petrof to make Leaving Pilníkov we then drove back even better pianos and compete in the to Hradec Králové for lunch. In the quality piano market. afternoon we visited where Czech piano In the evening we were taken to a tuners are trained. The Secondary School concert by the Hradec Králové of Applied Arts for Musical Instruments Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance and Furniture, situated in Hradec Králové, started with the lively Marriage of Figaro reminded me of my days at the London Overture by Mozart, which was followed by two piano concertos. Mozart’s 6th played by Jan Simon, an 11 year old, on a C. Bechstein, and Beethoven’s 3rd played by Matyáš Novák on a Petrof. Our very busy day finished with a buffet dinner. The second day of the Congress was taken up with lectures in the morning, which were simultaneously translated, followed by the EP AGM. I am pleased to report that the Association of Blind College of Furniture except we did not Piano Tuners was elected a member of have a piano factory next door! The Europiano, as was the Polish Piano course is four years long, the final year Tuners’ Association. being spent in the adjacent Petrof factory. Students from all over Europe are August 2009 21 During dinner we were entertained by Europiano Congress a local jazz band which had a brilliant jazz Continued...... accordion player as one of its members. They were an extremely good group of musicians. weather was not good on this trip. At the On Friday morning we were Academy we were given a short transferred to Prague by bus and after presentation by Paul McNulty, a checking in to our hotel, and a swift lunch, Fortepiano maker. He gave a fascinating we departed for the city centre. insight into the maintenance of these early Our first stop was the musical pianos, and although personally not a fan instrument museum where there were of Fortepianos I was really enthused by several fascinating exhibits. One that his obvious passion for these instruments. caught my eye He was able to give us countless tips if was the August ever we were to encounter problems with Forster quarter one in our working life. tone piano The day came to a close with a real constructed out treat. A concert had been organised at the of two August Prague Academy especially for the EP Forster grand Congress delegates. The concert began pianos, one with soloist Petra Matĕjová playing three placed on top of pieces on three different Fortepianos, two the other. The from 1840 and the third a Paul McNulty pianos were linked by three keyboards, copy of an 1805 instrument. two played the upper piano and one the Vladimir Tichý had been lower. The two instruments were tuned a commissioned to compose a piece for the quarter tone Concert and the result brought the house apart. down. The piece was written for four Someone from pianos and was performed on a restored the museum Steinway grand from 1874 and three played us a Rendl mini grands built in 1933. The piece that had small pianos were played by by three been written young girls aged 10 – 12, and their for the teacher played the Steinway. This was a instrument charming piece which fitted the occasion and needless perfectly and brought rapturous applause to say it at the end. Each student then played a produced quite a strange effect. There solo piece on the Steinway. was also a Neo Bechstein grand piano at The concert was bought to a the museum. Built in the 1920’s this resounding conclusion with a performance piano used electronic ‘pick ups’ to by a group of four pianists calling amplify the sound – a really early version themselves ‘Forty Fingers’. They begun of the 1970’s Yamaha CP70! Sadly it their programme with all of them playing wasn’t in working order. on a Förster ‘Quadrochord’ grand. With We then walked in the pouring rain to four strings per note in the treble it the Prague Music Academy — the certainly filled the concert hall with sound.
22 Delegates at The Europiano Congress 2009- but can you spot our President? They also used the three Rendl mini grands Computune88 to great effect playing as a ‘quartet’. Their Formerly INVENTRONICS Inc. (UK) final piece on the programme was the Tuning computer servicing and repairs Sabre dance by Khatchaturian, an inspired Tuning cases £25 choice to end an amazing concert. (padded with paperwork compartment) The Czech Piano Association had put a lot of hard work into preparing the 2009 Congress and I certainly enjoyed attending. The next Congress is being hosted by the Dutch Association in Holland in 2012, and that promises to be something special as well.
New Accutuner I (40 pages) £650 (half price)
Computune88 2 St John’s Crescent, Midsomer Norton, Radstock. BA3 2EP Telephone: 01761 410649 email: [email protected] The Europiano Congress Hotel
August 2009 23 Book Review Upright and Grand Action Regulation by Carl-Johan Forss. Rick Ohlendorf Translated by Nigel Edwards (2008). Published by Edition the piano technology Bochinsky, 564 pages, £74.50. student but one would need the book on Available from Heckscher & Co. regulation to make use of There is no copy in the PTA the repairs and as yet this Library. hasn’t been translated.” Now it has and the translation is to a high standard. The repairs book had black and white photos; this book has many high quality colour photographs – they really are superb. The book is divided into two parts, upright and grand with 35 chapters in each half. At the end of each part are tables with action regulation specifications for different piano makes, mostly newer instruments. There is no index but the table of contents is very detailed. The upright section has photographs and descriptions of non standard actions, some with magnets and some with an From the website: extra spring on the jack. Unfortunately, (www.pianomedia.se/english/carljo there is no data on how to regulate these. han.htm) I quote: Chapters on Viennese, Blüthner patent “The author is a senior master of actions are also included. methodical pedagogy with piano The book also contains some history technology as his special field. He has a of early actions, how to adjust touch long experience teaching piano weight, cleaning of the interior, how to technicians in both Norway and Sweden, measure and adjust centre pin friction for and more than 40 years of professional different sections of the action, and experience. He has written five books for various middle pedals arrangements on the piano technical profession.” upright pianos. Hammer voicing is This book is one of a set of three text covered in a separate chapter. books; the others are Upright and Grand As with the other book there are Piano Tuning, and Upright and Grand exercises at the end of each chapter in Piano Repair. The tuning book has not keeping with its textbook nature. The yet been translated to English from the book has much to recommend for the original Norwegian. In the review of student and the experienced technician. Upright and Grand Piano Repair (August The regulation procedures are 2007 issue of PTA News) I said: “There comprehensive and well presented. It is a is much to recommend in this book for much more complete and polished volume than the repairs book.
24 Letters Kemble not the Last
Dear Editor, outbuildings to the rear of the mansion Like Tony Card, I was very house. saddened to learn of the We retain the bending bucks for forthcoming closure of Kemble and two grand models which can be made Company’s factory at Milton to order. We also continue to produce Keynes (see his letter, page 25 in our famous ‘green frame’ upright, one the last issue of PTA News). of which was recently purchased by Of course, if we allow global the new Norwegian Opera House at market forces to have their say, there Oslo. Mr Stewart Broadwood, will be no manufacturing industry of although now retired as a director, any kind in the UK sooner or later. It is remains chairman of the firm. He acts all very well to state that it makes as a much-valued consultant, having ‘good business sense’ to have had a lifetime’s experience in the everything made in China, even industry. My co-directors are my pianos; but ultimately, as a result, we cousin Mr Guy Laurence of the drastically reduce the number of Netherlands, and my colleague Mr Per school-leaver opportunities, we Anders Lohne, who runs our branch dangerously expose ourselves to the workshop at Spikkestad in Norway. risk of not being able to make even My son Sam acts as our company screws on these shores, and we shall secretary, and so we continue very all end up as a race of boring much as an independent family computer operators, with no skills business. other than to speak in that hideous Kemble and Company Ltd is not computer jargon which is so quite the last British piano fashionable and glamorous at present. manufacturer: this firm is. With any We could end up having no training, luck, we should celebrate the three- investment or resources left to make hundredth anniversary of the founding anything useful whatsoever. What a of the Broadwood business in 2028. sterile country to live in! With best wishes, I am very pleased to inform the Alastair Laurence PTA News readership that the main Dr A.D. Laurence, director, Broadwood manufacturing workshop John Broadwood and Sons Ltd. was moved from Norway to England last December 11th, and we continue Finchcocks to produce British-made pianos here at Finchcocks in Kent—for direct sale to the public. Members of the PTA who may wish to visit Finchcocks Musical Museum are also very welcome to call in at our building and repair workshops, situated in historic
August 2009 25 Peter Wood He was one of the better tuners in You asked for memories of Pete. the group. "Octave crusher" was the name Pete gave his tool, although the Well one that sticks in my mind original college tool was a much was the time a piano was prepared simpler affair. I think John Spice for the first series of ‘You Bet’ suggested he make up a tool to reach hosted by Bruce Forsyth. an octave so he could tune. I suppose This was back in 1987. A piano had you could make one up to reach any to be assembled in 3 minutes. Anyway, interval that you are unable to reach once the piano had been prepared at with your own hand. LCF, Pete tuned it. It was then Roberta Caradine 1063 transported to Shepperton Studios, pulled apart and reassembled several Calling Mr R Mcleod times, moved around, played by I wonder if you can help. I am Brucie (accompanied on newspaper by Spike Milligan) taken back to LCF trying to locate a Mr R Mcleod. and the tuning checked by Malcolm I think he was a piano tuner here McKeand. It was still in good enough over 20 years ago. We are in the tune to pass a tuning test. Not bad, process of winding up a pension eh? scheme and he is a member. Steve Strafford 1068 Does this ring any bells? Please contact Letitia Winston at Kemble and Co. 01908 371771. We were completely shocked Thanks, by revelations about Pete's death. Brian Kemble We were a tight-knit group at college, unfortunately now scattered to the four winds. Pete never joined Let Them Eat Cake the PTA nor did Chris Hirst (although I thought you might be amused by they were PTA students) but the rest my daughter's efforts for my 65th of the final year group did. Matt Gough, birthday meal, Les Sherlock H773 Simon Gray, Steve Strafford, Colin Taylor, Barry and myself. I shared a house with Pete along with three other guys for the second and third year and viewed him and the rest of the group like big brothers. He had a very dry wit, was quick to mock my poor tuning, but supportive and a good guy. The last time I saw Pete and the whole of the gang was just over ten years ago when we had a bar-b-q at the workshop to celebrate our ten year anniversary of leaving the LCF.
26 PTA DIARY Please note these dates for your diary:
25 September 2009 PTA/Steinway Seminar with Eric Schandell Steinway Hall, London See Booking Form included with last Newsletter or contact the Secretary
11 October 2009 Pre-Test Tuning Seminar at Bluthner Piano Centre, London Contact PTA Secretary: see below
7 November 2009 PTA Autumn Lunch Pirniehall Inn, Bannockburn, Stirling 12.30pm Contact Andrew Jamieson: 01555 893160
25-27 November 2009 Trip To Louis Renner and Co Factory, Stuttgart See Booking Form included with this Newsletter For more information contact David Fry: 01474 814330 [email protected]
12-15 May 2010 PTA Annual Convention, Bournmouth
For enquiries, PTA goods, changes of address or contact details: Mrs Annette Summers PTA Secretary PO Box 1312 Lightwater WOKING GU18 5UB Tel: 0845 602 8796 or 01276 850325 E-Mail: [email protected] DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES:FRIDAY 18th SEPTEMBER Articles, letters and photos to: [email protected] or to address on page 3
August 2009 27