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pianobroker, thanks for your advice all through this process. I don't mind the finish - there is something familiar about it. If we refinished it wouldn't seem like the piano that we've known all these years. The reason I entertain the idea is that the inside looks so good I feel like we've "short changed" the cabinet. I think once it's in our home we'll be quite pleased with the old familiar look. Besides it still has the decal from where they bought it in Milwaukee in 1935. We wouldn't want to lose that!




Thanks for the compliments on the photos. These came out especially good but quite by accident. The light was very low in the shop and one of the workers suggested I use a shop light to brighten things up a bit. The lighting turned out to be quite dramatic.

Just in case anyone is interested, they were taken with a Nikon D70S with an 18-70 AF-S Nikkor DX lens. There is no flash and I used the auto white balance setting. Once downloaded to the computer I sharpened them a bit. That's it. I think the shop light was the hero in this case.

I've never considered having any photos published. I wouldn't know where to begin on something like that. I don't think the photos on Tuesday will be this good, just to warn everybody! ;-)

I have a frend that has used an amalgamator to restore old original lacquer finishes with reasonable success.

Edsio,

I would be happy to offer some suggestions.

First of all, think about it is as cabenetry rather than a piano. When you used the term "aligator" I knew immediately that it was a lacquer, rather than, a varnish finish.

Check around and find someone who is skilled with dealing with antique furniture. Those guys know how to restore a finish and not strip it down.

The first step will be cleaning. It will pull all of the "gunk" which has buit up over the years. Then a very meticulous steel wool rub will be employed to knock the edges from the crazing of the finish. It then will be hand rubbed to even out the finish

In it's current condition, it could not be restored to gloss lacquer. That would take a strip and start over approach. But, it could appear to the eye as a satin finish.

In the hands of a skilled furniture pro, it would be hundreds of dollars, as opposed to thousands of dollars for a strip and refinish.

Tuesday will be a delightful event.

Years ago we had restored a vintage mahogany Sohmer grand very much like your piano. The brother and sister /owners wanted to retain the original "patina" because that is how they remembered the piano when their mother had it years on end. Sentimental value to most in retaining that family heirloom is priceless

It's in the house! We're extremely excited. It's nice to see it in the place we made for it over a year ago. Thanks everyone so much for your great advice and encouragement. Now I just need to learn to play it! You may see me over in the adult beginners section sometime soon.

Ed

P.S.: Do you think I should take the cat out on the road?

I would be careful about the cat in the piano. I believe that Monica (who is a frequent poster hereabouts) had an unpleasant experience with her cat in the past year or so. And I've heard allusions to cats having a "tropism" for getting into the case.

We have a cat and so far we've been lucky. He thinks he owns everything else in the house and has no compunction about getting into anything to which he takes a fancy.

Best regards,

Hey, Edzio,

The piano looks great! So do the cats.

Congratulations.

Charles

These two cats have never seen a piano before so as soon as the paws touched the keys.... they took off running, puffy tails and all. It was very comical to watch! We do keep the piano closed when they are unattended. We definitely don't want cat hair on those beautifully restored inner workings.

Great looking piano! I've been told that indoor cats tend to have ammonia on their paws (from litter boxes) that can corrode and deaden strings quickly.