Piano World Home Page Forums Fun Stuff! - Parties, Tours, Projects & More... Forum Members Parties, Tours, Cruises, & Meetings Mason & Hamlin Factory Tour 2013!

SAVE THE DATE: Join us for an exciting
Tour of the Mason & Hamlin Piano Factory Friday September 8th, 2017 !

Use This Form to sign up for the 2017 tour.

BELOW ARE DETAILS AND PICTURES FROM OUR 2013 TOUR


That's right, it's that time again!

The folks at Mason & Hamlin are very proud of their pianos, their factory, and their people. And we'll take in all three, plus a free lunch :-)

They give a fantastic tour led by engineer & legendary piano designer Bruce Clark.

You'll get to see the process of building a high-end piano from choosing the wood to polishing the cabinet. And you will have the opportunity to see how they utilize a combination of the latest technology combined with old world craftsmanship.

And if you're really good, they just might have some nice newly minted pianos for us to play at the end of the tour.

Mason & Hamlin is so confident in their products and their processes, they allow us to take pictures throughout the tour. In fact, here's a thread with pictures From our 2007 Tour of Mason & Hamlin

Make plans now to join us in September. Respond to this post so we know you're interested, then...

Space is limited, so send me frank@pianoworld.com your
details right away if you want to join the factory tour.

Space is limited and the tour tends to fill up fast.


I'll need your:
Forums Name
Real Name
State
Phone



We would like to post your forums name, and the names of anyone you are bringing, along with your state (and country if coming from outside the U.S.).
Let me know if it's not ok to post your real name in addition to your forums name.
If you plan to bring others with you, please provide their details as well. (We will NOT post phone numbers or addresses). Your additional guests should also provide us with an email address so we can include them in any updates/changes.

The tour will start at 9:00 a.m. sharp.
Lunch and new pianos will be served after the tour.

I've also found out Cecil Ramirez, National Sales Manager, and long time Piano Forums member (his member number is in the 60's, as in two digits) will there to represent the company.
Cecil made special arrangements because he wanted to be with our group (thank you Cecil).
For those of you who may not know, Cecil is also a talented piano/keyboard musician, composer, and recording artist.


Additional Details Below the Pictures









ATTENDING THE 2013 TOUR:

Forums Name	Real Name	From:
dynamobt _ _ _ dcb aTallGuyNH B.C. danielshafner Carolyn Macneal _ Leo Todd _ _ _ mrm2 _ JGJ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Faival44 _ The Nosy Ape _ _ _	Marilyn Burris Robert Richter Mrs. Richter Marc Gendreau Dave Berke A.C. B.C. Daniel Shafner Carolyn Macneal Burgess Macneal Leo Todd George Kelley Terri Kelley Debra Hamel Michael M. Scott Van Hoven J.Gulotta Steve Young Jin Young Doug Janssen Christopher Berard Amy Berard Nathan Smith Russell Liebe Michael Wolin M. B. Wolin Steve Yao Mary Yao Don Kent Don Kent III Mary Rich	NH MA MA MA MA NH NH CT VA VA ME MA MA MA MA NY MA MA MA MA MA MA MA MA CO CO MA MA ME ME MA

To Date 31 Participants Maximum number of participants for this tour is 35.
WE WILL NOW TAKE NAMES FOR ALTERNATES. Every year some people drop out at the last minute. If you would like to join us, send me your info and I will put you on our alternates list. You will be contacted immediately if we have an opening.

Costs There is no charge for the tour. You are responsible for your own transportation and lodging.

General Information:
Keep in mind you will be touring a live factory in full production mode. Lots of dangerous machinery, tools, and many people moving around.

It will be approximately a 3 hour tour (just like Gilligan's Island).
At the end of the tour there will be freshly minted pianos to see and play.
Because we usually end up with a large group, anyone wishing to play must keep it short so others have a chance.

The group needs to stay together, stay out of the way of the workers, and LISTEN to what the tour director (Bruce Clark) is saying.

We do a LOT of walking (and standing). Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. The factory is clean (other than sawdust), but you may brush up against a piece of machinery, pile of wood etc.

Our thanks to the Burgett's (owners), our own Cecil Ramirez (national sales rep), Bruce Clark (piano designer, technician and tour moderator), Tom Lagomarsino(sr. vp), and all the other fine folks at Mason & Hamlin for hosting this event.


FYI, the factory is in Haverhill, MA (pronounced Heyvrill). About 45 minutes north of Boston.
If you are not from the area and would like a primer in understanding "Bostonian", please see this post
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/916668/

If any PianoWorld members would like to stay in Haverhill overnight, there is a Best Western Merrimack Valley Lodge nearby. www.bwmerrimackvalley.com

I've stayed here a few times, it isn't fancy but it's clean and comfortable.
The hotel is about a 10 minute drive from the factory.

Mason & Hamlin Piano Company
35 Duncan St. Haverhill, MA 01830
www.masonhamlin.com

AND NOW WE'VE ADDED A PIANO PARTY THE SAME DAY!


Join us for a fun time on September 9th. Our friends Larry and Pattie of E.J. Buck & Sons Pianos have kindly offered to host a
Piano Forums Piano Party immediately following the Mason & Hamlin factory tour.

You DO NOT have to be a forums member nor do you have to attend the factory tour to join us for the piano party.

YOU DO need to like piano music, good food, and having fun :-)



Speaking of good food, we always appreciate contributions of food and drink at these functions.
If you can bring something, please do, and please let Larry and Pattie know what you plan to bring.


E.J. Buck & Sons Pianos

www.ejbuckpiano.com

171 Lincoln St Lowell, MA 01852

(978) 458-8688


Mason & Hamlin Location


Parking

Count me in! Will send details via email.

Awesome! Can't wait.

I'll have my Department of Redundancy Department Answer:

Include me in.

Forums name: Palindrome
Real name (as real as it gets): Jim Orr
State: Blissfully retired in Illinois.

Phone: Will PM

Great, looking forward to seeing you again Jim.
Hoping you will also consider joining us on the next European adventure!
Congratulations on being retired. I hope I can join that club some day :-)

I have e-mailed you all my information as I would like to attend this tour. As of right now, it will be only me and not my husband. If this should change, I will amend as soon as possilbe.

Hey, Palindrome - didn't you see enough factories in Europe? HA!

I often attend but wait until all those that have not been there before, get their chances to sign up.

Great factory! Great pianos! she says biasedly!

LL

I want to be on this tour, very much so.

Danielshafner - forum name
Daniel Shafner -real name
From Connecticut

Added you to our list Daniel, see you at Mason & Hamlin.

I love that the "Bostonian" tutorial is included!

It is first rate, definitely.

For those who are more visual/auditory learners, check out "Boston as a Second Language", which really hits it out of the park pahk.

My personal favorite: learning the distinctions between "shaks", "shaks", and "shak".

There's even a translation function!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Mundy 9/9, it's gonna be wicked pissah!

I would love to come but, I went four years ago and I feel I should leave the spot for someone who hasn't been there.

Dan,

Keep the date open.
If we have less than 35 people for the tour, you are welcome to join us.

Forums Name: PaintedPostDave
Real Name: David M. Koenig
State: NY


Hello,

I and my friend, Denise Mustico would like to attend the M & H tour and the Larry Buck get together.

Dave

Frank,

I did think I was going to be able to come, but a number of recently scheduled events (including the Chicago Beethoven Festival have supervened, and I'll have to cancel. I hope to be able to come at some future time.

best regards,

Jim

Frank,

For the sake of us hapless schleps who actually need to prepare for this, what is the general etiquette of "anyone wishing to play must keep it short"?

Are we talking one minute? two minutes? five minutes?

Five minutes would be good.

There are approximately 30 people on the tour.
Not everyone plays, but most do.

Keep in mind there is a party at E.J. Buck & Sons after the tour, which will provide more time for playing.

Is it OK to bring a backpack with water bottle and small snacks to stay hydrated and keep from getting too hypoglycemic as we go along?

I can muster OK, but my little waif of a daughter is worried about passing out or starving to death if she doesn't have her morning snack.

It's ok to bring, but I'd plan on leaving the backpack in the office/showroom area unless it's really small. You don't want to get caught on any machinery, or scratch any newly born pianos.

M&H usually provides water bottles, but of course you can bring your own.

The day is here!!!! I'm headed out in a few minutes! Can't wait to see lots of pianos in the making and meeting new people!!!