Last Update Feb. 10
We note with sadness the passing of Mary Mobbs on February 9th. She was a fine musician and her soundboard paintings for noted harpsichord makers will live on for a long time to come!
See the ‘Dating Pianos’ page for important new information about Thomas Tomkison and Geib square pianos in America. Many thanks to Tim Harding and his team for their diligent work on the Tomkison data!
We have added a new page called “Accessories” which will discuss many of the peripheral attachments occasionally found on our square pianos. Please write me about additional accessories you would like to see included. We currently have PDFs on the subject of the thin wooden covers (schalldeckel), swells, and Janissary pedals. In the next week or so we will post on buff stops, followed by moderators.
See the link for Stephen Paulello wire, and stay tuned as we gather the details on obtaining wire from Professor Stephen Birkett, which should appear shortly. Also to arrive this month is our first results from a new source of leather stateside.
We are adding the nearly complete restoration report for the 1790 Longman & Broderip square, which has risen from the ashes of near oblivion. It contains some information we promised on bringing up a square piano from a point of no hammers, dampers, or strings, so nearly as kit-like as they come. Also an appendix of pictures with measurements of some of the less often seen structural elements in these squares. I am sure there will be more questions, so please contact me as you need to. High resolution pictures are available on request, since I have a size limit as to what can be posted here.
It has been a busy time, with the acquisition of a new square by Andrew Reuss of Cincinnati and subsequent biographical scroungings, as well as contact with several interested parties in the US, one of whom is very deep into leather research for coverings. Stand by for results of samples we hope to test shortly. The Reuss material is now available on the restoration page, but perhaps we need to begin to document the American builders here?!? Much material exists on builders in the UK thanks to the tireless efforts made by Michael Cole and others, but we have somewhat negelected all but the major captians of industry.
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This site is being developed to help individuals who have (or would like to have!), a working square piano from late 18th or early 19th century, and perhaps would like to know more about how to approach restoring such an instrument. It may also be a place for the more experienced restorer to share their best practices and techniques, and to advance the state of the art in early piano studies.
As such, it will work best with many contributions, so anyone with a subject they would like to address is invited to contact Tom Strange in the contacts box and I’ll happily respond or post your content to the appropriate page! As with all things ‘rediscovered’, the collected wisdom of our contributions may not always be so ‘wise’, so please use this information to make an informed decision for yourself regarding your particular restoration. The Friends of Square Pianos network is always happy to take a question, even if ready answers are not so easy to come by!
