IN STOCK: Bechstein model V grand c1894 + why did someone make side-flaps on the top lid?

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[@fulcherpj]

Yes those side flaps are to place your candle stick on while the music rack is in use. The Bluthners had that slide out section each side of the music rack assembly so you could get your light source out far enough to light the music. I guess the side flaps on the Bechstein lid are just another way of doing that.

[@unequally-tempered]

According to the Bechstein serial numbers listing on your website this instrument would appear to be 1879. It needs a good tuning and voicing of the hammers can be done successfully in the course of a good tuning, as I did on another of your instruments. What worries me is the clear disparity of some of the unisons which might indicate loose pins and to be expected of an instrument of this age. As a visiting technician maintaining this instrument for someone at home, I'd use CA in the first instance before recommending greater information, but as a piano-house selling A1 instruments this would be unacceptable for you as a retail instrument. I wonder if it's had a new soundboard in the past as the Bechstein decal appears to be missing.

[@RobertsPianos]

Dear David, thank you for your comments as always. The number we put on the assessment sheet is the case number under the piano, not the serial number which of course should be on the metal frame between bass and treble strings. The ratio of the two numbers is about 2.4, but not consistently so.

[@unequally-tempered]

@@RobertsPianos Oh WOW! That's a confusion and a revelation. So the case number is not the serial number? This seems very odd and I've been mistaken therefore for years and which would make my instrument 15968 not 1885 but much later, although a classic fish-tail Model III rather than the later equivalent Model C

[@CharlesLangSamuel]

I’ve heard of adding a small rib on the underside of the soundboard to increase stiffness, as there seems to be some debate about whether downbearing is necessary or just stiffness. Sometimes hard hammers seem to make a thin tone. Cabinet edges where it’s light make it look tired and worn and seems like just darkening/makeup on those areas could make it more presentable. Music rack is absolutely disconcerting, gonna be a pain to explain that to all your guests. Someone like Brigham Larson in the USA might create a copy desk of the appropriate Bechstein desk. But at a minimum cleaned up lead dust with some kind of liquid so as not to get in the air, some voicing, cabinet touch up and might be useful to someone.

[@RobertsPianos]

Thanks for your good comments. We've not had any experience adding a rib but may well work. The hammers do need voicing too. Ideally it should also be repolished; we can do that if commissioned to do so. We can also get an authentic music rack in the Europe. We'd also finish off the lead more thoroughly as you suggest,

[@qwaqwa1960]

Always interesting...

[@DaraM73]

A shame you couldn’t assess/restore my Model V. 😬