Yves Beaupré Italian

Before and after a complete restoration.

Single after Mietke

This single manual after Mietke, made in 1993 by Richard Auber and Jake Kaeser, was in my workshop for voicing and action work. A perfectly crafted instrument, it is now a part of the collection of historical keyboard instruments at the Juilliard School of Music.

Pleyel Harpsichord

This instrument arrived in my workshop with a multitude of problems. Specifically, the tuning screw assemblies, as a result of having been previously lubricated with an unknown substance, were corroded and frozen in place. This necessitated their careful removal, cleaning and re-installation. As is typical with many Landowska model Pleyels, the nuts carrying the 16' strings became separated from the 8' nuts, and had to be reattached. After correcting these and other issues, the instrument was newly voiced in leather, and it plays and sounds splendidly.

John Challis double manual harpsichord #48

This amazing example of engineering excellence wandered into my workshop for some TLC. Made in 1944, it returned to the Challis workshop in 1960 for modification, where the original tongues, slotted for leather plectra, were replaced with Delrin plastic tongues slotted for Delrin plectra. The jack bodies appear to be the originals. Following a complete voicing and action regulation, it plays and sounds splendidly. Its registration is 16'x8'x8'x4', with buff stops on both 8' registers. It has seven pedals to change the registration. Pictured is the full instrument, and details of the keywell with action removed.

Adam & William Geib square piano #6247

This instrument, made in 1825, arrived in my workshop in abysmal condition, having undergone a previous restoration of very poor quality. It had been restrung in modern steel wire, and none of the action components had been properly hinged or installed. The original leather hinges had been removed replaced with modern piano stringing braid glued to the tops of the hammer, underhammer and damper levers. The bridge was lifted from the soundboard, and broken into 5 pieces at the treble curve.

After a painstaking restoration, it sounds and plays magnificently.