Past Mailer, Winter 2005

Greetings fellow piano technicians,

Blackstone Valley Piano continues to offer high quality keyboard and key frame restoration for technicians nationwide. With a machinist background, state-of-the-art milling machines, and original Pratt & Read keyboard tooling (acquired from Frank Stopa), I provide repair and restoration techniques that incorporate traditional key manufacturing procedures.

Piano restorations that offer such features as a refinished case or extensive work on soundboard, strings, pinblock, action parts, and damper systems should not overlook distorted balance holes, worn bushings, broken buttons, or corroded key pins. The keyboard is essential to the appearance of the piano and it is the foundation of a well functioning action. Playability, and even tone, depend on consistent, efficient, and appropriate transfer of energy through the keys.

Here follows some information about my company, an endorsement, and a list of our services.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Morvan
Associate member PTG, Rhode Island Chapter

Jim Birch (RPT, CT Chapter) introduced me to Frank Stopa, retired master key coverer. Frank and I hit it off well and he gave me much encouragement, including a lot of information, some trade secrets, and all of his original Pratt & Read tooling. Included in this treasure was an ivory planer, an ivory jointer, an ivory clamping jig for aligning and setting ivory properly, a mortising machine for making buttons, and several trimming jigs for shaping the ivory. To the inspirations of this new knowledge and equipment, I have added efficiencies of modern milling machines and techniques from my machinist’s background.

In my search for a reliable source of ivory, I found David Warther of David Warther Carvings in Dover, Ohio. David is a fifth generation carver of Swiss heritage. He has dedicated his life to intricate, museum-quality carvings and to supplying African elephant ivory, Ancient Wooly Mammoth ivory, and cattle bone to piano and organ builders and rebuilders.

David has legal ivory, bought in accordance with strict U.S. Government guidelines, and properly cut, bleached, and matched in the traditional manner. I buy from David exclusively.

With my setup of Bridgeport milling machines and custom jigs and fixtures, the tolerances for cutting, fitting, and shaping are plus or minus one-thousandth of an inch! Let me resurrect your keyboard by replacing tops, fronts, buttons, mortises, pins, and all associated cloth, felt, and leather as needed. This work properly done increases both the quality of your rebuild and its profitability. With less problems squaring, spacing, polishing, bedding, leveling, and regulating, your action work will also be more fun.

Endorsement, Christopher Brown, RPTBoston Chapter, Concord Piano LLC, concordpiano.com

Mike Morvan , whom I’ve worked with for the better part of ten years, is the hardest working person I know. Dependable, focused, ingenious, and industrious, he does the proper job.

Mike’s tolerances when milling, shaping, and fitting are virtually perfection. I entrust every aspect of keys and keyframe with his company, knowing that he will produce a standard that exceeds my expectations.

Come see examples of Mike’s work with an over view of his process and a tour of his procedures at concordpiano.com. Concord Piano is my action rebuilding and piano service company located in Concord, MA. The concordpiano.com website puts under one e-roof and promotes a collaborative piano rebuilding team, of which Mike is an important member.

George Crawford, RPT and his company, Aardvark Piano, do the belly work. Steve Kilroy, Boston’s most sought-after refinisher, transforms the cases. Mike does the keys. And Rob Bushell with his company, Bushell Piano Movers of Framingham provide trouble-free moving. I organize the overall jobs, do the action work, complete the jobs, and provide the warranty.

With about 120 years of experience between the five of us, we are each expert in our part of the business. We are located around Boston, but offer piano rebuilding services and moving to the continental USA. Look for our collaboration’s ad in upcoming PTG Journals.

Mike Morvan may not be the least expensive key person in the country, but in my opinion, he is the best and thereby, the best value. You will save time and hassle during installation, and you will be able to sell your job for more based on your confidence in a superb result.

Please contact Mike directly or through concordpiano.com for great service, fair pricing, and eminently presentable work.

Blackstone Valley Piano
Keyboard Services

Keytops

Natural Materials

African Elephant and Ancient Wooly Mammoth Ivory, 3 thicknesses, 1 or 2 piece

New Bone keytops

Restoration of old ivory and ebony

Legally purchased exclusively from David Warther Carvings, Dover, Ohio

Plastics

Molded keytops: domestic or imported with attached fronts, gloss-white or off-white

Custom tops: separate tops and fronts, several types, cuts, and finishes available

Sharps: plastic, ebony, or restoration of original

Bushings

Cloth or leather

Glued with hot hide glue

Buttons

Button fabrication for .146, .162 and other sizes, made of basswood and bushed by hand with hot hide glue

Button replacement, individual or entire set

Key Pins

Key pin replacement of front or balance rail, key pin inserts for damaged rails

Mortises

For naturals or sharps, old mortise is machined out and an insert is installed

Mortise inserts are made of basswood and bushed by hand

Balance Holes

Balance hole located, machined out, and an insert installed, hole relocated and drilled

David Snyder (RPT, PA Chapter) method

Keystick Repair

Build up sides (from fingernail erosion or to correct spacing), tops or fronts

Keylead plugging and inserts

Broken key repair and inserts

Mortise cover inserts Key shoes replaced

General

Beadblast cleaning of keys and actions, backchecks, all key and keyframe cloth.