Baldwin M restoration
This piano was one that lived in a St. Louis area church until a former member purchased it and had us restore it. They then moved it to Florida where they live.
The soundboard had to be re-crowned as we do with most of our pianos. The piano case and soundboard stay in the dry room kept at very low humidity and 105 degrees for about a month. Then comes the process of shimming of the cracks that are in 99.9% of all piano soundboards. We use vintage shims to match the age of the soundboard with the age of the shim wood. That also matches the color of the wood so that when refinished, shims are nearly invisible. Shims are put in under great pressure and very heavy weights stay on until the glue is dry.
Then the board is scraped not liquid stripped to keep it dry. Bridge is also scraped to brighten up the wood.
The board is then finished most often in shellac to match the original color. The shellac also seals the wood to slow down the swelling and shrinking of the wood from normal humidity changes, thus keeping the piano in tune longer.
The cast iron plate is filled and sprayed with gold using bronzing powders that match the original color for that piano company.
When sprayed, clear coated and dry the lettering is painted back on and new felt is cut to match the original understring felt pieces which were saved and copied.
The pin block is copied and fitted precisely to the plate. Below is the drilling at the drill press. Notice the water damage on the old pin block.
Here the piano harp is reassembled and is ready for stringing.
