[AliciaWoolf]

Hi there. I know little about pianos and have just inherited an Eavestaff piano. I think it is a 1950s model because when I googled 'eavestaff' I found a couple for sale that look identical to the one I inherited. It is an simple, elegant, wooden upright piano. Inside it there is a metal frame at the back which has been spray-painted gold. Under the flap that holds music sheets, old fashioned typesetting in gold states: "Eavestaff, Estd 1823, London" It does need tuning, some keys are flat in places. It also needs a good cleaning - the inside is so dusty! My questions are: What are the characteristics of an Eavestaff Upright 1950's model? Is it over or underdamped? How is it strung? Is there any special thing I need to ask the piano tuner regarding its tuning and cleaning? Assuming it is in good condition, as pianos go, is this a decent one? Can it be tuned to concert level performance or is it too small? I have been advised as to where to put it and when to have it tuned, so I'm being careful about caring for it. Hopefully your answers will also help me to understand my piano, give me the correct questions to ask the piano tuner and advise me as to what what I can expect from the piano. Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge and the time you spend answering this question.

Sincerely

Alicia Woolf
South Africa

[Bill Kibby]

I'm sorry that in spite of all those words, you have told us nothing that would identify the piano from the various different Eavestaff models. It is almost certainly underdamper overstrung. Your tuner is the person to ask many of these questions, and we have no way of judging its condition or value from here. Size has nothing to do with pitch, that depends on its history of tuning, and its present condition. I just hope this is not one with the tuning pins underneath the keyboard! Inside, you should find one or two numbers which may help us to date the piano, but no archives are available to identify it in any other way. They exist, but are sadly not being allowed into the public domain. As to where to put it...

KEEPING A PIANO IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, OR WITHIN FIVE FEET OF A HEATER, WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSE SERIOUS, PERMANENT, IRREPARABLE DAMAGE.
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I do not buy, sell or value pianos, but I sometimes rescue pre-1890 pianos in the UK.

For more details see my own website: http://www.pianogen.org

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