Mason & Hamlin Model A Piano Restoration | Before & After

 Mason & Hamlin Model A Grand Piano #21946 | Photos

Along with Steinway & Sons, the Mason & Hamlin piano company continues to be one of the few golden era piano makers still in the business today. New and used Mason & Hamlin instruments are favorites of many pianists and continue in popularity around the world. We recently rebuilt Mason & Hamlin Model A #21946 for a private client in Richmond, Indiana. Completed in 1913 at the company’s Boston, MA factory, this piano is a great example of historic Mason & Hamlin quality. Historic Mason & Hamlin Model A Grand Pianos measure 5’8″ in length and are considiered to be one of the finest pianos ever made under 6′. The client visited our shop and selected Model A #21946 for restoration.

The Restoration Process | Before & After

Once selected for restoration, our team of piano technicians and rebuilders went to work. The belly of the piano was fully restored. The cast iron plate’s original finish was removed and it was sanded, puttied and re-bronzed. Raised lettering on the plate was hand detailed. Made of solid spruce, the original soundboard and bridges were repaired and refinished and a new soundboard logo was affixed to the center. New copper wound bass strings along with high quality music wire was installed to new, blued tuning pins. Proper bearing was set which allows for optimum soundboard efficiency. Too little bearing and the vibrations will not be transmitted to the soundboard correctly, too much bearing and you risk the sound being muffled. A new custom fitted pinblock was fabricated and installed. Dozens of plate screws and bolts were re-plated and the aliquots were polished.

Cabinet Refinishing & Cosmetic Details

The cabinet featured a simple, yet beautiful cut of mahogany. Any cosmetic cabinet damage was repaired and it was then refinished in a closed pore, hand rubbed satin lacquer. Thin coats of lacquer are slowly built up to ensure a smooth and clear end result.Time and labor intensive, this process allows our piano refinishers to bring out the very best from the mahogany veneer. The case itself was in excellent condition and supports the maker’s reputation for extremely durable [and heavy] construction. The brass pedals, hinges and leg ferrells were all polished to a high gloss sheen. When completed, this work resulted in a truly ‘like new’ look for this 100 year old instrument.

One of the most eye catching features inside of vintage Mason & Hamlin Grand Pianos are their sets of matching wood damper heads. The original damper heads were carefully refinished in a gloss lacquer and new high quality damper felts were installed. The entire damper system was carefully regulated to ensure proper performance.

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Action Rebuilding & Regulation

The rebuilding of a piano’s action is one of the most essential pieces of any full piano restoration. New select wippens, hammers, shanks and flanges were installed. New German Kluge keytops were installed to the original keysticks. New felts were installed in the action for solid and lasting performance. Extensive action and tone regulation/voicing was conducted and the action was weighed off to proper specifications. Often ignored, this process is crucial in assuring that the piano reaches its full potential. The result of this work is a piano with a rich bass, clear ringing treble and a very responsive action. [Learn more about action restoration.]

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Built to Last | Restored for the Future

This vintage instrument came into our shop looking every bit of its 100 years of age. We were very pleased to be able to give new life to this golden era grand piano. Mason & Hamlin grand pianos are beloved for their high build quality and rich tone. This piano delivers on that well deserved reputation. Chupp’s Piano Service, Inc. has specialized in the art of piano restoration for over forty years. With a special focus on vintage grand pianos, our work has grown to become the preferred choice of numerous pianists, concert venues and universities across the continent. The restoration work we complete on vintage pianos is a time honed process and goes beyond the industry norm in terms of extensiveness and quality. Our Northern Indiana facilities feature a large selection of restored Steinway, vintage Mason & Hamlin and other fine brands of pianos. [Including new Kawai grands, uprights and digitals.] Get in contact with us today if you have any questions about our services or wish to set up a private selection appointment.

Chupp’s Piano Service | Grand Piano Restoration | Steinway Grand Pianos | Vintage Mason & Hamlin