Current & Recent Projects
54" McPhail Upright #43336 (1908)
 
 
54" McPhail Upright #43336 (1908)
Traditional mahogany cabinet. Reconditioned in September 2016 for the owner in Becker, MN.
IMPROVEMENTS:
Complete Cleaning--Clean strings, pressure bar, keybed, keypins, pedal mechanisms.
Recondition Action—
Reshape hammers, Tighten action screws, Replace or repair defective parts, Install new bridle tapes, several brass flanges, several sticker components, several butts, butt squares, catcher leather, key button. Clean & lubricate.
Complete Regulation—All adjustments to ensure that piano plays like new. Install new underkey punchings. Tune to pitch (slightly flat).
Original Manufacturer of this brand-name--A.M. McPhail Piano Co.

Established--1837 in Boston. Incorporated in 1891.

Other brand-names used by this manufacturer--None.

Other manufacturers of this brand-name--After 1957, McPhail brand-name pianos were manufactured and sold by Kohler & Campbell.
From: Pierce Piano Atlas, 12th Edition (2008, Larry Ashley Publisher, Albuquerque, NM).

Note: To obtain the age of your piano and details about the manufacturer, click: Pierce Piano Atlas--"the world's most authoritative publication on piano manufacturers, past and present." To learn how a piano works and how to go about buying one, we encourage you to purchase The Piano Book.
A - IN OUR SHOP
9 - Heat for shank & hammer bending

9 - Heat for shank & hammer bending

10 - Align hammers to strings

10 - Align hammers to strings

11 - Remove old bridle tapes

11 - Remove old bridle tapes

12 - Install new bridle tapes

12 - Install new bridle tapes

1 - Air clean action

1 - Air clean action

2 - Remove all rails & bridle tapes

2 - Remove all rails & bridle tapes

3 - Store rails & dampers

3 - Store rails & dampers

4 - Replace 20 broken brass flanges

4 - Replace 20 broken brass flanges

5 - Replace 2 defective hammer butts

5 - Replace 2 defective hammer butts

6 - Install 3 longer catcher shanks

6 - Install 3 longer catcher shanks

7 - Install 2 new hammers

7 - Install 2 new hammers

8 - Install new hammer rail felt

8 - Install new hammer rail felt

For contact information, go to the "Home Page"
Selected pictures of the step-by-step improvement process
CLICK PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE, THEN CLICK "CLOSE" TO RETURN TO THIS PAGE
Picture #43 - Close-up of fallboard and keyboard
13 - Clean & lubricate regulating rail

13 - Clean & lubricate regulating rail

14 - Reglue & straighten several jacks

14 - Reglue & straighten several jacks

15 - Reshape hammers

15 - Reshape hammers

16 - Replace 2 sticker flanges

16 - Replace 2 sticker flanges

17 - Clean & re-install damper rails

17 - Clean & re-install damper rails

18 - Treat hard butt leather with neatsfoot oil

18 - Treat hard butt leather with neatsfoot oil

19 - Install several new butt squares

19 - Install several new butt squares

20 - Install 36 new catcher leathers

20 - Install 36 new catcher leathers

21 - Attach new bridle tapes to wires

21 - Attach new bridle tapes to wires

22 - Clean & lubricate hammer rail springs

22 - Clean & lubricate hammer rail springs

23 - Re-install hammer rail

23 - Re-install hammer rail

24 - Clean & lubricate dampers

24 - Clean & lubricate dampers

25 - Repace broken damper flange

25 - Repace broken damper flange

26 - Re-install dampers

26 - Re-install dampers

27 - Action is ready for the piano!

27 - Action is ready for the piano!

28 - Reglue key bushing

28 - Reglue key bushing

29 - Replace broken key button

29 - Replace broken key button

30 Clean keys

30 Clean keys

B - AT THE PIANO OWNER'S HOME
31 - Remove front panels, end blocks & keyslip

31 - Remove front panels, end blocks & keyslip

32 - Install new leather on pedal rods

32 - Install new leather on pedal rods

33 - Reposition action to eliminate wobbling at bottom

33 - Reposition action to eliminate wobbling at bottom

34 - Install new back cloth, punchings. Regulate bottom and top three notes

34 - Install new back cloth, punchings. Regulate bottom and top three notes

35 - Install all keys, regulate capstans

35 - Install all keys, regulate capstans

36 - Repair broken key

36 - Repair broken key

37 - Level white keys

37 - Level white keys

38 - Regulate key dip

38 - Regulate key dip

39 - Regulate backcheck wires

39 - Regulate backcheck wires

40 - Regulate letoff

40 - Regulate letoff

41 - Tuning

41 - Tuning

42 - Re-assemble panels & fallboardL Finished!

42 - Re-assemble panels & fallboardL Finished!

43 - Close-up of fallboard & keys

43 - Close-up of fallboard & keys