Fully restored and rebuilt 1902/1903 Ibach 6’9” Grand piano with high sheen Rosewood finish. This type of restored case is similar to the finish of a new piano, mirror-like, revealing the wood grain of the veneer and aesthetically enhancing the look of the piano. The back of the instrument’s case is pointed (fish-tail-cabinet) and gives it a concert hall style, with large turned legs on brass castor wheels. We have recently compounded and refinished the case and brass trimmings throughout. It is buffed to a high shine and looks like new.
The sense of history, methodical craftsmanship and aesthetic beauty is unmatched, restored and rebuilt by the highly regarded Robert Morely in Lewisham, UK in 1992. O'Briain Pianos collected this piano from Robert in 2016 and it resided in Loughlinstown, Dublin from then until now. Owned and cared for by an excellent pianist, she had it regularly tuned by us and traded it for a larger concert grand piano.
The rebuild includes: New strings, tuning pins, custom fitted pinblock, refinished bridge caps, new damper felts, key bushings, high quality unworn hammer heads, fully shimmed and varnished soundboard, original ivory key tops cleaned and whitened, refinished brass, extensive veneer repair, and gilded cast iron frame with new felts.
The tone is full, rounded, even and pure, with a clear and potent Tenor and Bass register and good depth of tone in the high end. The keys are nicely weighted and the piano has a medium responsive touch, a pleasure to play. You don’t have to hold back and can expend as little or as much energy as required. The piano would suit a range of genres and ideal for learning on, but is also capable of satisfying the seasoned professional.
History: The owners, Ron and Joan Hicks were both self-taught pianists. Ron learned piano whilst stationed with the Royal Artillery in Egypt immediately after World War 2. Both were confined to a camp because of the troubles and Ron was encouraged by the Education officer to take up the piano to pass the time.
They purchased the Ibach from Kennards in Croydon in the late 1950’s. Kennard’s were running a promotion subsidized by the government to encourage the purchase of musical instruments. Ron and Joan fell in love with the Ibach and received it on a hire purchase agreement. It was delivered to Thornton Heath, Beverstone Road.
In 1969 they moved the piano to Addington and in 1992 asked Robert Morley to rebuild the instrument back to its original former glory. When Morley stripped the piano he found a small quantity of broken window glass inside the action which led to the theory that the piano had been in bomb damaged surroundings during World War 2. This tied in with some veneer damage on the lid which had to be very skillfully repaired during restoration.
Here is part of an email sent to us from Ron and Joan’s son:
“Neither of my parents were in the least bit materialistic and the piano was the only ‘thing’ in my mother’s life for which she truly cared. It is with the deepest sadness that we have to part company with it after nearly 60 years and I truly hope that it’s next owners derive as much pleasure from its ownership as did my mother and father.”