Friday, March 23, 2012

Clementi Square Piano

Pictured is a Clementi & Co. square grand, makers number 14537, circa 1818, which will eventually undergo a complete restoration.
Unfortunately, it appears that a well intentioned but rather incompetent "restorer" did some work on the instrument at some point in its life, having replaced the original overspun bichord bass strings with single, overly heavy wound strings, along with a few other inappropriate additions and "improvements."
Fortunately, the instrument is complete.  The ivories are all present, and in remarkably good condition, as are the original hammers.
Stay tuned.