Franco Skilan RPT Displays His Steinway and Sons Style 3 Concert Grand at the 2008 National PTG Convention
"Rebuilders Gallery" Showcases Some of the Finest Restored Pianos in the Country
For the 2008 National Piano Technicians Guild Convention, Franco was asked to display and teach a class on his long term restoration project of a Steinway and Sons Style 3 Grand Piano, built in 1876. This 132 year old piano was restored to "as new" condition. This piano has had a long history of previous case modifications and restorations. It had gone back to the Steinway factory between 1905 and 1910, according to Steinway records, for "repairs." This is most undoubtedly when the case modifications were performed to give it a more "modern" look and stature. It was at that time as well when an entire new modern action was fitted to the instrument (the originally fitted action had a rocker arm wippen assembly).
This current restoration included:
A new dimensionally duplicated soundboard with new bridge caps and notching
A new keyset with geometry corrections and genuine Renner components including damper back action
Custom weigh-off to Concert level specifications
Pinblock restoration with Falconwood plugs
A complete refinishing of the instrument in an ebony rubbed, satin finish with high gloss undertop and inner rim in original Rosewood veneer
Complete preparation and extensive voicing for concert use
"Piano Restoration or Replacement"
Helping Clients Make a Wise and Educated Decision
Franco Teaching at the National PTG Convention
Piano tuners and technicians are often asked to do estimates and proposals on a potential restoration of client's pianos. This is one of the most important areas of honest information that must be given to the prospective client. Is it better to undertake a major restoration project on an older piano, or is it simply better to go out and find a quality new piano?
The class, as the title above indicates, deals with issues that come up during the evaluation process:
Is the piano's outcome potential worth the cost of the restoration compared to the purchase of a new, similarly built piano?
What is the piano's resale value once the restoration is complete?
Are replacement components available for the restoration?
What will the piano sound and play like once the restoration is complete, and will it meet the expectations of the client?
Is the prospective client mostly interested in name recognition on the fallboard, as opposed to the "real world" facts about the piano and a proper restoration?
What are some of the potential difficulties that must be overcome in order to restore the piano in question?
To what level should the piano be restored... a basic refurbishing of the piano with as little expenditure as possible? Or, to an "as new" level, to be compared to similarly built new pianos?
Franco dealt with these and other questions to help arm technicians with the understanding of how to properly evaluate a piano, and, more importantly, give the proper advice to a prospective client to make a well informed and educated decision.
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