Birdcage, and Boyd

[Clair Dunn]

Bob --
Thanks for the info re Boyd. The serial number of my
prize is 49976. The cabinet is in beautiful condition.
>From what you say, sounds like Boyd was comparable to
Kohler & Campbells here. Good, solid pianos--nothing
special but overall well-made. (For the flame throwers,
I'm talking about the early K&Cs not the fake modern
ones).

Joe hasn't answered yet, so I don't know why the pianos
used overdamping. (That's why I left my original msg. in.

Any guess as to the approx. date for that serial number??

Clair

> - --- Clair Dunn <cadunn@vt2000.com> wrote:
>> Joe-
>> Just about 2 months ago I tuned my first "birdcage
>> piano". It did take
>> longer to tune, but I thought it was exciting to see
>> and to work on.
>>
>> I've read about them, but never thought I'd see one.
>> So, I for one, liked
>> the experience. I didn't charge any more though.
>>
>> BUT -- I assume that the system was a precursor to
>> the current system. But,
>> I don't know why it was done that way unless there
>> was something to be
>> gained by damping on the short side of the strike
>> point.
>>
>> Can you tell me why?? And, it was a Boyd (London) --
>> anybody know anything
>> about them?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Clair
>>
>>
> In the birdcage era every home had a piano - it was
> absolutely essential.  Therefore cheap ones had to be
> made for poorer people.  Boyd were considered a fairly
> good (middle of the road) make.  Solid and reliable.
> Tonally nothing special but a good, servicable
> instrument.
>
> If you enjoy tuning birdcage pianos please come to
> London - we still seem to have a lot of these left!
> Maybe it's just that our climate is conducive to
> pianos lasting longer!
>
> I always use Papps wedges to mute these (do you have
> these in USA?)  It is best to remove the soft pedal
> celeste felt before tuning so as not to impede the
> insertion of the wedges.
>
> Bob Wilson
> London
>