Finishes that were applied to pianos during the heyday of their production – roughly from the 1870’s through the 1940’s – looked beautiful when they left the manufacturer’s facility. Period manufacturers chose to emphasize the beautiful wood grain of the cabinet instead of covering it in black lacquer or even polyester, as is common today.
There were some downsides of using the old finishes, however. They were often soft, tended to attract dust, and darken with age and sunlight exposure. In extreme cases, they developed “alligatoring.” It is sometimes hard to imagine how these pianos looked when they were new! Unlike antique furniture, retaining the original finish on a piano does not enhance its value
For those desiring an instrument that looks as beautiful as it plays, refinishing is the answer. Although some may still prefer “basic black” to the natural wood grain look, we suggest you consider a hand-rubbed tung oil finish – if the underlying wood grain is intact or repairable. Not only is this finish durable, but it also resists darkening and alligatoring.
Refinishing is done in Harmonia’s shop, and can be done at the same time as other interior work such as soundboard replacement or action rebuilding. We will move your piano to our shop, complete the finish restoration and return it to you looking as if it were new!