Ricca, or Ricca & Son was established in 1891 by H.F. Ricca and E.I. Ricca, at 604 East 132 St. and 884 East 134th St., New York. By the mid 20’s the offices and factory was located at 97-99 Southern Blvd., New York. They bought the Ludwig PIano Company around 1933.
Leg from an 1897 Ricca Upright
Pneumatic player pianos are a lot of fun and operate using a vacuum for power. Pedaling with the feet creates this suction, which operates bellows in the piano. Through hoses and valves the player mechanism manipulates the action of the piano where it in turn plays the keys. Each note has an individual valve and pneumatic unit. The valve controls the suction, which collapses the pneumatic (a small bellow) on cue from the music roll. The music roll is a paper roll that passes over a bar that tracks the perforations in the roll to allow air through the corresponding tubes and valves, which allow the note to be played. Between 1900 and 1930 there were 2.5 million of these machines built in the United States. These wonderful instruments of the past are becoming more difficult to find complete and working. They are less sought after in today’s modern world of electronic player pianos but anything that can be done to keep the ones that are still in existence from being discarded is a worthwhile effort.
Early 20th Century Player Piano
A player piano advertisement depicting a child pushing the pedals. Showing that it was so easy to pump even an infant could do it.
One of our favorite antique pianos, Wing & Son, was founded in 1868 by Luman B. Wing in New York. Luman B. Wing was the main partner in the firm of Doane, Wing & Cushing. Luman B. Wing died in 1873 and was succeeded by his son, Frank L. Wing and then by his son R. Delano Wing in 1905. They were famous for their high quality pianos and the unique 5 pedal design, which added a “rinky tink” & “mandolin” type sound accessory on uprights. They sold many pianos through mail order and were very successful during their history.
Wing & Son 5 pedal upright
*This particular piano has had a QRS Pianomation player system added noted by the additional compact disc drive unit on the front of the piano.
The latest Clavinova digital pianos from Yamaha are able to reproduce the feeling of playing a grand piano better than ever before. Here are some of the many features offered on these fabulous instruments:
These are just a few of the many features these wonderful instruments have to offer. If you have ever thought about owning a piano and were short on space or wanted more than just an acoustic piano these finely crafted instruments are the perfect choice for many musicians.
One of the first things to consider about any used piano is tuning stability. Ask these questions; Can the piano be tuned? Will the piano hold its tune?
One major factor in the answer is the Pinblock.
• A pinblock is the part of the piano that holds the tuning pins. It must:
1. Exert pressure on the tuning pin to keep it from slipping.
2. Allow the tuning pin to be rotated smoothly during the tuning process.
3. The best material for pinblock construction is a very dense hardwood (ex. maple, beech).
4. The pinblock must be constructed with multiple layers of hardwood, bonded together at cross-grains to hold the pin. This process is called lamination.
5. To hold the tuning pin tightly over the years, the block must also be protected from the problems caused by daily humidity changes.
Many antique piano pinblock’s have “lost their grip” on the tuning pin and can no longer hold the tension created when the string is pulled up to pitch. This is caused by the constant pressure always being pulled against it and the changes in humidity that have occurred over the years on the wood. The problem of lost tuning stability can be repaired on most older antique pianos by replacing the pinblock altogether or in some cases by replacing the tuning pins with a larger diameter tuning pin. The second option is more common with upright pianos where the cost of replacing the pinblock is not always cost effective. Either way, the piano can be repaired, and be able to hold its tuning again.
Many piano technicians do more than just a tuning when servicing their clients pianos. When we are called to tune a piano it is in our best interest as well as the customer’s to evaluate the pianos condition and give the customer our professional opinion of the quality and serviceability of their piano. Many times when we take the piano apart by removing the front panel or the bottom kneeboard and show the customer the inside they state “Wow, I never knew that even came apart.” or “Wow, that sure is dirty.” 
This is also a good time to clean or vacuum the piano as they are many times “dust magnets” All pianos are in a slow state of disrepair and making the customer aware of possible situations that may arise in the future will allow them plan for the repair ahead of time. In any potential repair job, educating the customer is they key. The more they understand about their own piano and the service that it needs the more likely they will continue to take care of their instrument for many years to come. Most all customers like to know the condition of their instrument and how to keep it in top notch playing condition. We strive to make this possible for each client that we service.
Polyester is the most recent material to be used on pianos. It is a product of modern chemical technology that provides the highest degree of beauty and protection available. Polyester is a very stable product and weather changes have no effect on its size. Therefore, applying a stable finish to a constantly changing surface invites trouble. When the wood changes in response to humidity, the polyester can crack or lose adhesion with the wood. Yamaha utilizes a special resin and wood pulp formula to create a sheet of material that provides a stable surface for the polyester application.
This resin sheet is applied directly to the wood and makes the wood under the finish virtually impervious to atmospheric changes. The integrity of the polyester finish is not subjected to changes that could otherwise take place in the wood beneath the finish. Virtually indestructible, polyester protects against sun, heat, spilled liquids and most other substances that tend to destroy a piano’s finish. It is about ten times thicker and up to seven times harder than lacquer. The extra thickness and strength of polyester not only beautifies and protects the wood from scratches, but also seals the wood to protect it from humidity fluctuation.
We now have a piano tuning in Asheville service listing on Thumbtack. I’m always looking for ways to help market my piano moving, repair and tuning services. Thumbtack is a good way for me to help me show off my expertise in providing professional, very affordable piano moving, repair and tuning services. Check out my listing to learn even more about what we do!”
Voicing is an altering of the tone quality within each note throughout the piano by adjusting the tension of the hammer felt. This is achieved by using needles to make the felt more pliable or tense depending on the desired result. Other means of changing the tonal response of a hammer include adding chemicals to the felt to achieve similar effects. Before any voicing can be successfully done, the piano needs to be in good regulation, in good tune and the hammers need to have a good shape especially at the striking point. Piano hammers should not be to worn. Preserving good tone within the piano requires a good quality hammer felt that has been maintained properly with correct reshaping and realignment on older worn hammers. On new pianos, voicing is sometimes needed and the final voicing should be done in the final location where the piano will be located so that room acoustics can be factored in to the equation. Musical tastes vary, and no one style or shade of voicing is right for each pianist. Thoroughly discuss the needs of each piano and its owner prior to having the piano-voicing job completed. It is best to have a good idea of what the end result will be after the voicing has been completed.
1. Try all the pedals. Listen for squeaks and noises.
2. Play all notes throughout the keyboard. Make sure they sound and return correctly.
3. Look inside the piano. Look for worn or broken parts. Ask questions about the history of the piano and whether or not is has been maintained regularly.
4. Have the owner/salesman play the piano for you or play the piano yourself to determine whether you like the tone quality and the feel of the pianos action.
5. Be willing to learn and take advice of knowledgeable piano people but inevitably make your own decision about the piano and your purchase.
*These are just some quick checks that can be made by the average piano shopper. It is always advised to have a qualified technician evaluate the piano thoroughly prior to purchase.
Piano Tuners in Asheville and also serving all of Western North Carolina.
Piano Emporium
285 N. Main St.
Suite 5
Weaverville, NC 28787
828-277-5566
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