1901 Kohler & Campbell Upright
Additional "Before" Pictures
taken in our shop:

1 – View of piano from upper right, showing intricate carvings on the music rest and the front pillar.

2 – Close-up of right leg, showing its elaborate design.

3 – Close-up of keys. New plastic keytops were installed by the previous owner.

4 – "Before" picture of hammers, dampers, and strings. Hammers need to be replaced because current hammers are various sizes from different sets. We will also improve the alignment of hammers, dampers, and strings.

1901 Kohler & Campbell Upright
Pictures of the restoration process
taken in our shop:

1 – We completely dismantled the cabinet and stripped the old finish off all panels and the main body.

2 – We removed all plate bolts and old understring felts, and then lifted the plate from the piano to provide access to the soundboard and bridges.

2 – We removed the bass bridge screws. In order to reach one screw located behind a beam, we drilled a hole through the beam.

4 – With the screws off, we removed the bass bridge from the soundboard with a special tool.

5 – A close-up of the cracks in the bass bridge explains why we needed to repair this bridge.

6 – Using the original bass bridge as our model, we cut and assembled a new bridge.

7 – After punching the locations of the holes using a paper pattern, we routered the edges and then we installed new bridge pins and painted graphite on the surface between the pins.

8 – We refinished the soundboard and treble bridge with sealer and spar urethane.

9 – We installed the new bass bridge and refinished it with sealer and spar urethane.

10 – After sanding, we applied grain filler and dark oak stain on the veneered parts.

11 – We rubbed back the stain until the grain pattern was clearly visible. This will later be covered with several coats of satin lacquer.

12 – We cleaned the plate with soap.

13 – After cleaning the plate bolts, we re-installed the plate and then installed new understring felts.

14 – Using the pattern we made prior to string removal as guide for string guages, we installed new piano strings and pins.

15 – Restringing complete! We installed stringing braid in the middle and bass sections.

16 – We standed all veneered and solid wood surfaces on the panels and other piano parts.

17 – We applied grain filler on all veneered surfaces and rubbed it into the pores with burlap. Then we applied dark oak stain and rubbed it into the wood.

18 – Before applying spray finishes, we masked the plate, strings and pins with newsprint and masking tape.

19 – We applied two coats of sealer on all surfaces.

20 – The legs and other solid wood parts were a challenge to stain a color that would fit the color of the veneered surfaces. After applying stain, we rubbed it out until the color was similar.

21 – We cleaned and polished the key pins. We cleaned the keybed wood surface with steel wool. We repaired a crack in the keybed with glue and clamping.

22 – The pedal board had several areas of damage and the pedals were badly corroded, so we removed the pedals for later replacement with new ones and we repaired the cracks with glue and clamps.

23 – We tightened all action screws. We replaced several hammer butts and shanks to replace defective butts.

24 – We removed the damper levers, hammer rail, regulating rail, and spring rail from the action in order to clean and lubricate them.

25 – We removed the even-numbered original hammers and installed new hammers; then we replaced the odd-numbered hammers--to ensure that replacements were in exactly the correct position.

26 – We installed new bridle tapes by gluing them to the tops of the butts.

27 – We cleaned and lubricated the damper rail and the spring rail, and re-installed them in the action.

28 – We cleaned the damper wires, removed the old damper pads, and re-installed the damper levers into the action.

29 – When the final coat of lacquer was dry, we re-installed the keybed and the legs.

30 – We re-installed the pedal board, and we installed four new casters.

31 – We purchased a new unfinished oak bench for this piano. We refinished the bench parts with the same materials as the piano.

32 – We installed a new fallboard decal under the the final coat of clear lacquer.

33 – We re-installed the reconditioned action into the piano and corrected the hammer blow distance.

34 – We cleaned and polished the previously installed plastic keytops.

35 – We re-installed the keys and regulated the capstans.

36 – We regulated keyheight, levelling, letoff and dip.

37 – We regulated the damper wires and spoons. We then tuned the piano several times.

38 – After assembly, our piano is ready for delivery! We are pleased with the outcome, and we're confident that the buyer will be delighted with this fine instrument. It's a very tall upright with very rich, deep tone--sounds like a six-foot grand but takes up much less room!

39 – Close-up of keys and fallboard decal. We installed maroon-colored nameboard felt and black buttons.

40 – The new oak bench accompanying this piano has the same finish--it's about the same color as the piano.