Bill-- Thanks for the correction! However, I assumed (must not do that!!) that because two grand old McPhails in my care have WNG actions. I'll bet they just used them on their top of the line pianos. I remember the first McPhail I met, after looking it over closely, and not having my history books with me, I came to the conclusion that it must have been made by an escapee from Ivers and Pond. So much was similar. Of course McPhail was his own man and came down from Nova Scotia. I'm surprised to learn that Poole was a "carbon copy" of McPhail, because the Pooles (2 again) that I've run into were not made with any where near the quality of the McPhails. Perhaps again, a difference of models -- maybe I was unfortunate enough to have the bottom of the line here. Anyway, I have wondered often if there isn't somewhere a history of action builders. I for one, would sure love to read about them. In a message dated 1/4/02 5:32:19 AM Eastern Standard Time, cadunn@vt2000.com writes: > WN&G was also used by Heintzman, Ivers & Pond, and McPhail--all > very fine piano makers. > > Clair > Clair, Sorry to have to correct you, but McPhail pianos always had Strauch Bros. actions. We had an 1895 McPhail upright, and I learned to play on it, later using it for tuning practice. McPhail uprights and their carbon- copy Poole brand were even more common than Ivers & Pond in Maine during the 1950's. Bill Maxim Maxim Piano Service
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