April 2017

PTA visit to Newark College

Sketch of Phil Taylor by Ronald Stein Newark College Workshop

2
 CONTENTS
Editorial — 4
President Writes — 5
Membership News — 6
Piano for Sale — 6
PTA Useful Contacts — 7
Newark College & PTA Open Day — 8
PTA Visit to the Piano School, Newark — 10
Life Beyond Newark College — 12
New PTA Forum — 13
Blüthner Training Day — 14
Letter to the Editor — 15
Press Notice Update — 16
Europiano Delegates Meeting/Autumn Dinner — 18
Piano Picture Puzzle Solution — 19
Images from Piano History — No 14 — 20
Letters to the Editor — 21
Council Report — 22
PTA Diary of Events — 23

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Tania Staite, Tel: 020 8677 4422
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Email: advertising@pianotuner.org.uk

The next deadline for PTA News is: Friday 26th May 2017.
PTA News is the Newsletter of the Pianoforte Tuners’ Association. All views expressed are
those of the contributors, not necessarily reflecting those of the PTA or the editorial team.
Please send items for publication to ‘The Editor’, preferably via email with photographs sent
separately from the text. Posted items can only be returned if accompanied by an SAE.
Please obtain the necessary permission before submitting copyright items.
PTA News, 49 South Hamilton Street, KILMARNOCK KA1 2DT
Email: ptanews@pianotuner.org.uk

3
EDITORIAL
ANNE BURTON

W e have several articles in this issue following the recent

visit to Newark College. Andrew Giller and I have written about
the day itself, see pages 8 and 10. Roberta Caradine has picked up the topic of
‘Life Beyond College’ which was talked about on the day, and on page 12,
Roberta gives extremely valuable advice. Thank you to John Lord for allowing
us to visit, and hosting the event.
On page 14 there is full information about the Training Day that is to be
held at the Blüthner Piano Centre in London on June 24th. The day is
sponsored by the Blüthner Piano Centre in London and the PTA is very
grateful to them for this generosity.
The press update on page 16 refers to the treasure found in the Broadwood
piano that was featured in the February issue of PTA News. The Coroner is
still looking for information and the update here includes information about
The Treasure Act 1996, and The Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Stirling is featured on page 18, where the Europiano Delegates Meeting
will be held in November this year. There are pictures of the hotel and its
observatory, and also the castle and the distillery which the PTA have
arranged tours to visit over the same weekend. The Scottish Autumn Dinner
will take place immediately after these events and if you have never been to
Scotland, this would be an ideal opportunity to seize.
Dr Laurence has sent in an image of the piano maker Alfred Knight for the
continuation of his series, Images from Piano History. The article starts with
the question, “What is going on here?” so turn to page 20 to read the whole
fascinating story.
In this issue we have letters to the Editor on pages 15 and 21 because of
constraints with the layout of the newsletter.
Finally an apology to those who received an envelope sans the February
issue. The main post office in Kilmarnock closed recently and this gave some
problems as a bundle of seven newsletters were found “loose in the post” and
returned to me. If you didn’t receive the February issue and would like your
copy, please contact me: email address and telephone number are on page 7.

DEADLINE FOR PTAN ARTICLES: FRIDAY 26th May 2017

Articles, letters and photos to: ptanews@pianotuner.org.uk or to address on page 3.
Please email photographs and text separately.

4
THE PRESIDENT WRITES
ANNE BURTON

T he new Forum has been working well in the secure

Members Area of the website since the beginning of February.
I would urge you all to investigate this excellent resource, and make use of it
as much as possible. I thoroughly enjoy reading the posts as they are both
varied and very informative.
Here is the link to the registration page of the new PTA Forum.
http://ptaforum.uk/index.php?action=register
When your registration is approved (by an Administrator), you will receive
an email and you can view the message boards and post. Not having used this
type of Forum before, I found it useful to read the user manual and information
available at the Simple Machines Wiki, which told me how to search, view,
post etc. The link is — http://wiki.simplemachines.org My thanks to Gary
Whiteland for his work in organising this.
I’m really looking forward to the Convention next month. The opportunity
to mix a working environment with a social one, which is the experience of
attending Conventions, gives such a boost of enthusiasm to one’s usual
working life. It is also the most public way in which we can support our
Exhibitors and Sponsors. Engage with them, look at their products, pick up
brochures to pass on to clients, buy new tools, find out what services they
provide; by attending Conventions and supporting in this way we are able to
keep not just our business but our profession alive.
The AGM signals the start of another year for the PTA. While our financial
year is from January to December, our administrative year could be said to
begin with the AGM and the election of the new Executive Council. This is an
important time for us. Various issues that were a legacy from previous years
are now behind us and the future direction of the PTA has to be very carefully
considered. For any Association to survive, it is vital that new Members join.
I benefited from the wealth of knowledge and expertise that is the PTA. The
generosity of spirit with which Members share this expertise is something very
valuable in a shrinking profession. Come to Conventions, attend the AGM,
stand for Council and make it clear to PTA Associates and Students the real
value of being a PTA Member. The AGM Agenda notices will be emailed to
those in the PTA Group who have registered an email address and posted to
those who haven’t. Please notify the Secretary if you have not received the
Agenda by 21 April.
Anne Burton
PTA President
5
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
ANNETTE SUMMERS
An application to become a PTA Associate has been
received from:
Mrs Deborah S Barlow
1 Glenhurst Cottages
Romsey Road
Broughton
STOCKBRIDGE Grand piano for sale
Hampshire Steinway Model A
SO20 8DB
6’2” c1883
Tel: 01794 301402
Mob: 07949 403888 Fully restored by Paul Leverett
Email: barlow83@btinternet.com of Piano Restorations, where the
piano can be viewed and played.
We welcome new PTA Students: Restoration includes replacement
S1396 Ms S Loreto-Miller, Kluge keyboard, soundboard,
272 St. Philips Road, wrest plank, strings, tuning pins
SHEFFIELD and damper felt, Steinway levers,
South Yorkshire shanks, rollers and hammers.
S3 7JW As advertised for sale on Paul’s
Tel: 0114 327 6576 website:
Mob: 07804 073959 www.pianorestorations.co.uk
Email: nstopmo@gmail.com (Tab: sales/Leverett series)
For more information contact:
S1397 Mr Martin S Warlow Penny Searley, owner
9 Crawford Road pennysearley@ gmail.com
WOLVERHAMPTON Landline: 01562 777145
West Midlands Mobile: 07881 785686
WV3 9QU Paul Leverett, Piano Restorations
Mob: 07515 820085 pianorest@btconnect.com
Email: martinwarlow@yahoo.com Landline: 01296 733766
Mobile: 07590 212183
S1398 Mr Jack M Lovell
64 Gillott Road
BIRMINGHAM
B16 0EZ
Tel: 07787 420493
Email: jack.lovell91@hotmail.co.uk

6
Please note these changes to the 2015/2016 Yearbook:
H1007 Mr Andrew F Jamieson (new email address)
afjamieson1007@gmail.com
1231 Mr Finlay Fraser (telephone and email remain the same)
4 Upper Tickham Cottages
Tickham Lane
Lynsted
SITTINGBOURNE
Kent
ME9 0HR
845 Mr Terry Twissell
492 Bath Road
Saltforn
Near BRISTOL
BS31 3HG
Tel: 01225 872047
S366 Mr Gerwyn R Murray (telephone and email remain the same)
43 Maesbrith
DOLGELLAU
Gwynedd
LL40 1LF

Please send all changes of address, telephone and email to The Secretary
using the contact details on Page 23.

NEW PTA BADGES

New sew-on or iron-on badges will
become available in the first instance from
the PTA Secretary at the PTA desk at the
2017 Convention in Shrewsbury, at a cost
of £6 for a single badge or £10 for two.
Members only

USEFUL PTA CONTACTS

ptanews@pianotuner.org.uk Tel: 01563 551530
secretary@pianotuner.ork.uk Tel and Fax: 0845 602 8796
advertising@pianotuner.org.uk Tel: 020 8677 4422
7
NEWARK COLLEGE — PTA OPEN DAY
BY ANDREW GILLER

O n 22nd March Newark College opened its doors for an Open

Day and an opportunity for all of the students to attend a ‘Meet the PTA’ event
led by President Anne Burton with Council Members Nigel Polmear and
Andrew Giller in attendance. The day was made possible by course director
John Lord and assisted by his son and tutor Josh Lord with staff members. The
school is run in conjunction with
Lincoln College.
The department is situated in the
‘Appletongate Building’ which is a
former police station and
magistrates courthouse. Once the
College acquired the premises, a
more than substantial re-decoration
and renovation took place to
transform the site into state-of-the-art facilities. The former Victorian police
station history made a natural progression into the piano school! The ground
floor cells being perfect for tuning booths with very thick walls for sound
proofing and the former court room is an ideal large space for lectures, group
gatherings and graduation events. On both the upper floors there are spacious
workshop areas which is so important when dealing with many student piano
restorations on grand pianos.
It was good to see a number of PTA members attend the open day and John
led us on a tour of the building, which bought
back the memories to some of us from our own
college days, in my case 37 years ago with one of
my tutors, Graham Cantrill, attending as well. As
mentioned, we were witnessing very fortunate
students learning in first-class premises with all
the tools and materials on hand. The courses are
designed for a high degree of practical restoration
and tuning tuition. First year (Foundation)
students were working on basic upright action
repairs where third and final year (Advanced
Diploma) students were re-building a complete
grand piano, taking turns to do and experience
each part of the work. One project was a
Bechstein model B grand piano where the students
8
 had also appreciated the ‘Metalock’
repair system to the cracked frame.
On the top floor students undertake
case finishing and it was rewarding
to see traditional French polishing
being taught and practised on a
variety of piano component parts
including soundboards. This is a
particular skill which has been
‘fading’ away in recent years.
In general there was a hive of activity and feeling of great enthusiasm
running through the College which is so important in providing industry
training for new generations of skilled personnel for our profession.
Over lunchtime the PTA gave a recruitment talk to the students about the
many benefits of PTA Membership. A point which became quite clear
throughout the talk was what to do upon the completion of a college course.
This can be a lonely time with many hurdles to overcome practically and
financially in starting one’s own career. I know there is on-going mentoring
and generous assistance by PTA Members to students and I would certainly
renew the plea to all Members, especially shops and workshops, that if they
are approached by PTA Students or recent graduates, to extend a welcome and
consider a degree of mentoring support as far as their time and resources
allows.
I have personally been assisting a local Newark graduate from last year
who has been superb, building up his practical experiences in the workshop
and he comfortably tunes in homes and has covered some of our concert work
without any query. He should be well prepared for the PTA Membership Test
when that moment arrives.
If any students are in the vicinity of South Norfolk, they are welcome to
visit my premises which comprises a piano workshop, recording studio and
concert venue.

9
PTA VISIT TO THE PIANO SCHOOL, NEWARK
BY ANNE BURTON

W e had a very warm welcome from John Lord and his team of
tutors on Wednesday when we arrived. We had a tour of the building
starting off on the ground floor with the old court room number one which is
now used as a lecture theatre. This room still retains some of the character of
the old court with the enclosed glass area where defendants would appear
before a judge. The room has tiered seating, ideal for lectures or meetings and
as it is quite large, also a useful store for quite a number of grand pianos and
other keyboard instruments.
The first of three large workshops that we visited was the third year
students’ workshop. Here there were 2 grand pianos and the students were in
the process of stringing a Bechstein grand piano which they had re-scaled to
even up (and lower) the tension. There were workbenches fixed to the side
walls and a regulation bench in front of a window and in the space between the
two main areas of the room, large boards were fixed to the wall with tools
hanging on them, readily available.
Upstairs in the second year students’ workshop, three upright pianos were
at various stages of being rebuilt. Here again, the facilities for the working
environment were very similar to those downstairs and the room felt light and
had enough space to accommodate the year group comfortably.
We then had a look at some of the tuning booths and were impressed that
the noise level in the corridors and in the rooms was remarkably low. When it
came to lunchtime, many more students appeared than the noise level
suggested had been working in the rooms. Here we found ideal conditions in
which to learn to tune without the distraction of hearing other people’s tuning.
The booths were spacious enough to accommodate three or four pianos — a
couple of booths had been the cells in former times!
After lunch everyone assembled in the old courtroom. John Lord officially
welcomed and introduced the PTA Members who were present. Anne Burton,
Andrew Giller and Nigel Polmear spoke to those assembled about the benefit
of becoming a PTA Student and also what PTA Membership meant to them.
Further information and some answers to the students’ questions also came
from the more PTA Members who were present, Shaun McLoughlin, Graham
Cantrill, Phil Taylor, Gavin Crooks, Ed Stroud, Roberta and Barry Caradine.
Student application forms and Convention booking forms were distributed
along with the booklet ‘An Introduction to the PTA Membership Test’. Some
past issues of PTA Newsletters and a few spare items from the PTA Library
were also available for students to take away.

10
 After this, we had a look at the rest of the building including the first year
student’s workshop where everyone was busy working on case parts, learning
finishing techniques. The classroom used for teaching is another bright room
upstairs and has grand and upright models on the tables as well as a grand and
an upright piano. There are some areas as yet undeveloped including the old
courtroom number two. This room is currently used for exams by other
departments of the College.
With such good facilities, Newark College is giving a positive future to this
profession and given that there are now few establishments offering formal
training in the UK, the PTA should be helping and supporting piano tuning
and repair training in the UK in whatever way it can.

11
LIFE BEYOND NEWARK COLLEGE
BY ROBERTA CARADINE

L ast week I took advantage of the Newark / PTA Open Day to look
round the newish facilities and meet an enthusiastic bunch of students.
I haven’t been to Newark since my unsuccessful interview in 1984, not that
I hold a grudge! During the day I found myself having a similar conversation
with a number of the students about life beyond college, so PTA News Editor
permitting, I thought I might put a few thoughts together for the newsletter.
“It must be lovely to do a job you love, the money isn’t important”. This is a
statement many of us will have heard over the years and although it is
incorrect we all smile sweetly and nod. The truth is we are all in business.
The primary reason of being in business is to make money, if you happen to
enjoy your work as well that is a bonus. No one expects to get rich in the piano
industry but you need to earn enough money to keep a roof over your head and
food on your plate.
Some tuner / technicians are gifted and their skills generate demand for
their work. Others are competent but have to work hard to develop and
maintain a client base, especially if competing with the former or longer
established colleagues. Those in areas with low population density having to
work harder still than others in urban areas. How many of us considered our
business location when we started? I guess most of us were placed by forces
other than business decisions.
When I left college I worked for a Chelmsford based company for six years.
I lived a good hour away from the office and would pop in once or twice a
week to pick up my work. Magically, five tunings a day, five days a week,
neatly arranged in date order awaited me in my pigeon hole.
In 1995 I went my own way. I purchased a tuning round from a retiring
tuner paying £5 per name. However running a tuning business is more than
just tuning pianos; those previously mentioned neatly arranged days’ work
now had to be generated. For at least two hours each night I would arrange
work for the coming days and weeks. The joy of selling your services over the
phone to a reluctant client after a day on the road is no-one’s idea of fun.
Trying to pull together a coherent day without driving around the county in
ever decreasing circles is a skill. In addition to booking work there is book
keeping; all of these things have to be done.
I have been asked several times in recent years how much should I charge?
The answer to this comes back to my own business studies classes at college.
What are your personal expenses per month? (Rent / mortgage, utilities, food

12
etc.) What are your business expenses per month? (Car or travelling expenses,
communication expenses, insurance, premises expenses etc.)
How many hours per month are you prepared to work?
If you divide your combined costs by the hours you are prepared to work
that will give you your minimum hourly rate. Is that hourly rate going to be
sustained by the market place? If not you may have to work more hours!!!!
A tuning fee isn’t just for the 45 to 90 minutes you are in the client’s home,
it is also your travel time to get there, your time to arrange the appointment,
your time to bank your earnings and record them in your accounts and god
forbid the customer forgets and you spend a miserable 30 minutes patiently
waiting just in case they return and you can salvage your wasted time, which
raises the thorny issue of cancellation fees.
These are all things to consider whilst still in the safety of training or paid
employment. Another thing that may sound utterly daft is what do you want to
do? How I now spend my working week is so far removed from where I
started it is sometime hard to comprehend. Knowing where and what you want
to do should help you focus your attention on the skills needed for you chosen
path. A good overall knowledge of piano design and manufacture is helpful for
any tuner / technician and opportunities for factory visits should always be
seized. However gorge on the skills opportunities that will be most useful for
your working life. If you want to be an on the road tuner / technician then it is
obviously tuning, regulation and voicing. Know your strengths and play to
them. Use your trade contacts for areas outside your expertise keeping your
precious time free to do what you do best whilst offering your clients an
invaluable comprehensive service.

NEW PTA FORUM

BY GARY WHITELAND

T he PTA Forum is hosted on a Simple Machines platform. The registration

page can be found here — http://ptaforum.uk/index.php?action=register
Scroll down to click the terms and conditions. This will take you to another
page where you need to provide a Username, your email address and a
Password. The Forum is hosted independently of the PTA website, so you will
need a new Username and Password to use for the Forum. You will receive a
confirmation email when your registration has been approved. The Forum can
only be viewed when logged in, and there are no pages the public can view.
Please use your real name as the Username to make it easier for other
Members to see who is posting.
For information on using the Forum or to answer any questions you may have,
see the Simple Machines Wiki — http://wiki.simplemachines.org
13
BLÜTHNER TRAINING DAY
BY ANDREW GILLER

T he PTA is delighted to announce our next Training Day on June 24th at

The Blüthner Piano Centre in London who are generously sponsoring a
technical day for up to 30 persons. The day will be led by Dr Ingbert Blüthner-
Haessler, great grandson of the founder, Julius Blüthner.
Dr Blüthner-Haessler will talk about the company history and will hold a
masterclass on Blüthner grand regulation, voicing matters and ‘patent’ grand
action regulation.
A ‘hands-on’ opportunity will also be available to some participants and also a
general opportunity for questions and answers. The day will open with a brief
sales presentation and close with a short piano recital on a model 1 Blüthner
concert grand piano. Refreshments and lunch will be supplied.
On a personal note, Dr Blüthner-Haessler has been associated with the PTA
for many years, and I first met him at his lecture at the 1993 Marks Tey
Convention, then
again two years
later on a factory
tour in Leipzig. It
was a chance to
learn directly from
the maker and
share in his
phenomenal and
inspirational
knowledge of his
family’s pianos,
going back to their
founding roots in
1853.
Dr Blüthner-
Haessler took over
the management of
the company in
1966 upon the
death of his father,
Dr Rudolph Blüthner-Haessler, and at a critical time when the company was
still striving to build its ‘lost image’ after the war when everything had been
completely destroyed by fire. Other problems occurred in the early 1970s with
14
the un-lawful nationalization policy of the former East Germany. He remained
as a Managing Director in spite of the inherent political pressures and
economic doubts, and fortunately his decisive leadership re-secured family
ownership in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin wall and German unification.
The family was then able to move ahead and built a new factory in Störmhall
near Leipzig from 1994 to 1997. This achievement modernized their piano
production and secured the worldwide market place to this day.
Since 1995 Dr Blüthner-Haessler shares the management of the company
with his two sons; Dr. Christian
Blüthner-Haessler is in charge of
sales and finances, and Knut
Blüthner-Haessler is in charge of
production and all technical
aspects. As a result of the large
demand and interest, the
company has subsidiaries and
service centres in the U.S.A.,
London, Russia, France,
Netherlands and Asia.
The PTA is very grateful to
Blüthner’s and especially to
General Manager Stuart
Kernaghan for sponsoring the
day. Contact details for sales and
services:
Blüthner Piano Centre,
6 Baker Street, Portman Square,
London W1U 3AA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7753 0533
Fax: +44 (0)20 7753 0535 Left Dr Christian; Centre Dr Ingbert; Right Knut

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Anne,
The latest news about the book “Forest of Sheep and Steel” is that this best-
selling book will be made into a film. Shooting on the film has started now and
it will be released in 2018. Most of the location of the film is taking place in
Hokkaido, northern part of Japan, where mentioned in the original story.
The main actor is trying to study tuning now!! Oh dear!!
I hope they make English subtitled version for overseas.
All best wishes,
Eri Onami A66
15
PRESS UPDATE, 16 MARCH 2017
BY PETER REAVILL, FINDS LIAISON OFFICER FOR
SHROPSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE,
BRITISH MUSEUM’S PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME.

A n inquest was resumed today by HM Senior Coroner, Mr John Ellery at

Shrewsbury Coroner’s Court, in relation to a substantial find of potential
Treasure recently discovered within a piano in southwest Shropshire. The
inquest was originally opened on 12 January 2017 and adjourned awaiting
further investigation.
On 12 January Mr. Ellery asked the public for information regarding the
hoard’s original owners and their heirs or successors. He is very grateful to the
media for the publicity they gave the story and for all the members of the
public who have come forward with information or with potential claims.
Today, Mr Ellery heard about the nature of the find. The hoard is formed of
gold sovereigns and half sovereigns dating from the reigns of Victoria, Edward
VII and George V. The oldest coin within the group was made in 1847 and the
youngest in 1915. This suggests that the coins were deliberately hidden after
this date.
He also heard that the history of the piano had been securely traced after
1983. He is still seeking information about the ownership of the piano between
1906 and 1983. We know that the piano was originally sold to Messrs Beavan
and Mothersole of Saffron Walden, Essex in 1906 and was acquired through
private sale again in Saffron Walden in 1983.
The coroner has therefore deferred the conclusion of the inquest to allow
for more time for anyone to come forward with information about the piano
from the North Essex / Saffron Walden area.
The inquest will resume and conclude on 20 April 2017.
Anyone with information about the previous owners of the piano, their heirs
or successors, or the extent of the hoard, should provide this in writing to
Mr. Ellery at the Coroner’s Office for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin at the
Shirehall, Abbey Foregate Shrewsbury SY2 6ND.
The coroner will require evidence about:
● the extent of the find (i.e. what it comprises);
● how, when, where and why the find was concealed;
● evidence upon which they can be sure of the ownership by any
potential claimant.
All other enquiries regarding the case should be made in the first instance to
Peter Reavill, Finds Liaison Officer for Shropshire and Herefordshire, British

16
Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. c/o Ludlow Museum Resource Centre,
7-9 Parkway, Ludlow Shropshire SY8 2PG Tel: 01743 25 4748
Email: peter.reavill@shrophire.gov.uk
There is no penalty for mistaken claims made in good faith but any false claims
may be reported to the police for consideration of any offences disclosed.
The Treasure Act 1996
Under the Treasure Act (finds.org.uk/treasure) finders have a legal
obligation to report all finds of potential Treasure to the local coroner in the
district in which the find was made. The success of the Act is only possible
through the work of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, advising finders of their
legal obligations, providing advice on the process and writing reports for
coroners on Treasure finds.
The Act allows a national or local museum to acquire Treasure finds for
public benefit. If this happens a reward is paid, which is (normally) shared
equally between the finder and landowner. Interested parties may wish to
waive their right to a reward, enabling museums to acquire finds at reduced or
no cost. Rewards are fixed at the full market value of the finds, determined by
the Secretary of State upon the advice of an independent panel of experts,
known as the Treasure Valuation Committee.
The administration of the Treasure process is undertaken at the British
Museum. This work involves the preparation of Treasure cases for coroners’
inquests, providing the secretariat for the Treasure Valuation Committee, and
handling disclaimed cases and the payment of rewards.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme
Thousands of archaeological objects are discovered every year, many by
members of the public, particularly by people while metal-detecting.
If recorded, these finds have great potential to transform archaeological
knowledge, helping archaeologists understand when, where and how people
lived in the past.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (www.finds.org.uk) offers the only
proactive mechanism for recording such finds, which are made publicly
available on its online database. This data is an important educational and
research resource that can be used by anyone interested in learning more.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is managed by the British Museum, and
funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport through a grant, the
British Museum and local partners. Its work is guided by the Portable
Antiquities Advisory Group, whose membership includes leading
archaeological, landowner and metal-detecting organisations.

17
EUROPIANO DELEGATES MEETING AND
SCOTTISH AUTUMN DINNER, STIRLING
BY BRIAN FROST

T he PTA is honoured to announce that it will be

hosting the 2017 Europiano (EP) Delegates Meeting in
November 2017 – the first such meeting the Association has
hosted since the one in Cambridge in 2004. This gives us a
rare opportunity to meet and socialise with our European
colleagues in a relaxed and informal manner.

The Delegates Meeting, which

will take place in the morning of
Saturday 11th, is for EP Delegates
only. The afternoon’s programme for
the Delegates will involve a guided
tour of Stirling Castle (below).
In the evening we will all gather
for a Dinner at the Stirling Highland
Hotel (left).
Why not join our EP colleagues as
we tour the fascinating castle and
learn about its history and then join
us for dinner in the evening?

18
 On the Friday afternoon of the 10th
November, there will be a visit to a local
distillery (above) to which PTA Members,
Associates and Students and their partners
are invited. There will also be an
opportunity on the Friday evening to visit
the hotel’s own observatory (right) – built
originally for use by the grammar school
that the hotel once housed. Booking must
be made in advance for both of the main
tours with payment for the distillery tour
made in advance but the castle tour
payment will be taken on the day.

FEBRUARY PIANO PICTURE PUZZLE

SOLUTION
BY NIGEL DONOVAN
February answers — 1. Berry; 2. Boyd; 3. Blüthner;
4. Bӧsendorfer; 5. Knight; 6. Bechstein; 7. Strohmenger;
8. Spencer; 9. Farrand; 10. D’Almaine; 11. Brodmann;
12. Marshall & Rose.
19
IMAGES FROM PIANO HISTORY — NO 14
A WELL-KNOWN PIANO MAKER REFLECTS UPON THE
IRRITATING FACT THAT PEDALS ARE MISSING FROM HIS
PROTOTYPE!
DR ALASTAIR LAURENCE, JOHN BROADWOOD & SONS LTD.

What’s going on here? Our image shows the piano manufacturer, the late
Alfred Knight, standing next to the prototype of the smallest piano he had yet
made, the model K15, standing at just over three feet in height (96cm) and
specially designed for the American market. Knight had been responsible for
the instrument’s overall plan and string scaling.
Date? Around the year 1955.
And so, what’s wrong with the
piano? The pedals are missing.
And yet Knight appears to have
been willing to have himself
photographed with the new model
— presumably for publicity
purposes. He is certainly wearing
his best suit!
Knight is looking rather
serious and downcast. Yes.
It must have been galling for him
to notice that someone appears to
have forgotten to fit the pedals!
Maybe the factory had run out
of brass pedal feet on the day the
photo was taken? Unlikely.
Quite apart from the missing
pedals, the casework looks quite
unusual for a London-built piano.
Yes, the case style is usually
known as ‘spinet’ and was very
much a feature of those thousands
of small uprights sold in the
States throughout the 1950s and 60s.
And how long did this particular model continue in production? Alfred
Knight died in 1974, at the age of 74; but the Knight factory at Loughton, Essex,
continued to produce his model K15 until the workshop’s eventual closure on
the 31st October 1990. Thereafter, the model went out of production.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Colleague,

For those who prefer the old style email list, ‘Pianolist’, this is still in
operation under the new name ‘Plist’. Whilst the forum has the advantage of
archiving topics under strict headings for easy reference (assuming
contributors stick to the subject), the Plist might be an option for those who
prefer correspondence to be delivered to their inbox in real time without
having to log in.
I would encourage anyone who would rather use the more 'formal' forum to
do so but as an alternative, the ‘informal’ option of the Plist is available.
Please use the link below to easily sign up.
http://mailman.baremetal.com/mailman/listinfo/plist
Whichever you choose, let’s just be active and keep talking to each other!

Best wishes,

Nigel Donovan 1070

Dear Anne,

I have decided to hang up my tuning lever and retire.

I joined the PTA on the 18th July 1973, the President was Sidney Harrison
and Tony Card was the Secretary.
I served on the Council with my ex employer and now friend, Bill Kreis.
My only claim to fame is that I helped design the PTA Logo.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Members of the PTA who,
over the years, have helped and advised me.
I will be holding a workshop sale of tuning and regulating tools, piano
cradle etc. If you are interested in any of these items, please phone or e-mail
me on 01234 824524 or mallin1@btinternet.com
I wish the PTA and all its members every success for the future.

Yours sincerely,

Malcolm Hodsdon 886

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PTA COUNCIL REPORT
ANNETTE SUMMERS

The Meeting of the Executive Council was held on 25th March,

2017 at Robert Morley & Co Ltd., Lewisham.
Present were: Anne Burton (President), Annette Summers (President/Treasurer),
Tania Staite and Andrew Jamieson (Trustees), Andrew Giller, Stephen Venn,
Shaun McLoughlin, (Council Members), Lewis Flisher (Hon. Council Member),
Barry Caradine and Roberta Caradine (Observers).
Apologies were received from Finlay Fraser, Nigel Polmear, Michelle Rudd and
Gary Whiteland.
The Minutes of the last Meeting were circulated and approved.
A Student complained about their details being published in the PTAN. Forms
will now state that details will be published.
The Treasurers report was circulated, discussed and approved.
An Associate application received from Mrs D Barlow, Stockbridge, Hampshire.
Three Newark Student applications received from Mr M S Warlow, Mr J M
Lovell and Ms S Loreto-Miller.
Gary Whiteland reported that the PTA Forum was set up and tested on 3rd
February. An invitation was put on the PList on 14th February inviting Members
to sign up. The Membership was emailed with details on how to sign up. Adrian
Carpenter and Fiona Gilroy have been appointed as Moderators.
The Yearbook will be ready for publication once the new Council Members are
announced at the May AGM. Stephen Venn will be standing down from Council
but has agreed to continue to produce the Yearbook. Tania Staite agreed to
undertake the Yearbook advertising again.
Andrew Giller has produced the 24th June Blüthner Training Day Booking Form
and this will be inserted in the April PTAN.
Anne Burton reported a successful Open Day with John Lord at Newark College
on 22nd March.
Andrew Jamieson reported that he now has 92 delegates listed for the Convention.
Andrew suggested that promotion of the 2018 Convention should start during the
2017 Convention.
2018 Convention will be held at The Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington;
classes are yet to be confirmed.
At this Meeting, the Secretary received the following Executive Council
Nomination forms:
Anne Burton (President), Andrew Giller (Vice President), Tania Staite (Trustee),
Andrew Jamieson (Trustee), Shaun McLoughlin (Executive Council Member),
Nigel Polmear (Executive Council Member) and Roberta Caradine (Executive
Council Member).
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The Treasurer proposed: an increase of £5 for 2018 Membership and Associate
fees, Patron donations to remain at a minimum of £80 and Student entrance fee
to remain at £10. Voted on and carried unanimously.
The next Executive Council Meeting will be held after the Convention Lunch
on Saturday 13th May 2017 at the Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel
and Spa, Shrewsbury.
Observers are welcome to all Council Meetings. A full copy of the Minutes is
available from the PTA Secretary.

PTA DIARY OF EVENTS

Convention with A.G.M. 2017, 11th to 13th May
Mercure Shrewsbury Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa, Shrewsbury
PTA Training Day, Saturday 24th June 2017
10am to 5pm at The Blüthner Piano Centre, 6 Baker St. London W1U 3AA
Executive Council Meeting
Noon on Saturday 29th July at Robert Morley & Co Ltd, Lewisham
Executive Council Meeting
Noon on Saturday 30th September at Robert Morley & Co Ltd, Lewisham
PTA Scottish Autumn Dinner, Saturday 11th November 2017
Stirling Highland Hotel, following on from the Europiano Delegates Meeting
Executive Council Meeting
Noon on Saturday 25th November at Robert Morley & Co Ltd, Lewisham
Executive Council Meeting
Noon on Saturday 27th January 2018 at Robert Morley & Co Ltd, Lewisham
Executive Council Meeting
Noon on Saturday 24th March 2018 at Robert Morley & Co Ltd, Lewisham
Convention with A.G.M. 10th to 12th May 2018,
Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington
Convention with A.G.M. May 2019
Suggestions for suitable venues and classes welcome.

For enquiries, PTA goods, changes of address or contact details:

Mrs Annette Summers, PTA Secretary
PO Box 230
HAILSHAM
BN27 9EA
Tel: 0845 602 8796 Email: secretary@pianotuner.org.uk
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