This is a piano I was recently called to service.
As you can see it has had some work done to it; the case was refinished about 15 yrs ago, and still looks quite nice! The owner’s name is Bob Jackman. Bob sells dried pressed flowers, and has done so for over 27 years! His website is Nature’s Pressed – he grows almost all the flowers himself! Very neat!
This piano, which some might refer to as an “upright grand” because of the large size, was built in 1903. It was the piano Bob’s mother played on when she was a little girl back in the late 1920’s, and when we opened it up we found something very neat inside:
When he saw the writing he exclaimed that it was his grandparents last name and old address from more than 60 years ago! The mystery still remains as to when and why the name and address were written on the action of all places! Maybe the action was serviced 60 years ago and the technician in that day needed to remember who the action belonged to. Or maybe Santa Claus wrote it in there…perhaps we’ll never know, but it just goes to show that there are all sorts of treasures you can uncover when tuning pianos – even family history!
Duncan,
I have *exactly* the same piano in my house as the one in your photo. It is a 1903 Regent. I have had it completely restored. It plays well and it is beautiful.
Do you know anyone else who has this piano? Does your client still have it?
He does still have it! It’s a family piano that he has also had some restoration done to it. Very neat to hear of someone else who has the exact same piano! If you’d like I can pass your information along to my client and see if he’d like to connect. If so send me your name and email or phone number. Thanks again for the comment.
Duncan