Original Finish for 1926 Schultz 5 Grand

Some of you may recall I am re-finishing my 1926 Schulz five foot baby grand. Before I got this fixer-upper it had been painted white with latex house paint! I had thought that the original finish was like the common modern black lacquer; now I have the cabinet striped down and the white removed I find the base is a fair quality veneer with a medium brown hew and the music rack is walnut..

I wish to get the finish as close to the original as possible. Does anyone know, or can anyone make a logical guess, as to how this piano was originally finished in 1926?

Thanks for any info or input anyone might have.

Mike Stevens

My guess is shellac.

Regards,

Rick Clark

Rick thanks but I meant what color? I mean would the grain have been stained and showing or would it have been like a modern black lacquer? Can I read you reply to be the former? Thanks again.

Mike

On an upright, more than likely it was wood grain. However, in those days many were stained darkly, so the grain didn't show all that well. On others, the grain was more pronounced, though still darker than 'natural'.

The best way to judge would be by the appearance of the grain itself. The better quality veneer that was used (decorative, highly figured), the more likely they really featured the grain. Also, as you look at the various cabinet parts, how well do the veneers or grain patterns match? If they do not match extremely well, more than likely a dark stain was used, to cover it all over. But if obvious extreme care was used for beautiful veneer matching, they probably showed it off- though some color would have been used.

Also keep in mind to use yesteryear's standards of grain, not todays. Much better veneers were available then. In those days, veneers such as mahogany were commonly painted over completely, unless the grain was really something special. Nowadays, grain considered quite ordinary then might be featured.

Regards,

Rick Clark

Rick, thank you, and having looked now inside at the back of the key bed I am convinced that you are right and originally it the veneer was stained a dark walnut. The inside of the cabinet is black lacquer but I suspect that has been added later. Now I have to make a choice between a dark stain as per original, black lacquer or my wife's choice ivory lacquer. The veneer is 98% intact but it is only average quality and the music stand is fine walnut and decorative that does not match and I now think the music stand might not be original and I guess this is a point in favor of paint.

Will this decision effect the final value? I intend to have it fully restored ultimately as despite some of the comments I got it really plays better than a lot of modern small grands. Why are 95% of pianos black lacquer and very few white? Is this puffy or do they mark easily I wonder?

Mike S and thanks again.

Mike,

Most people want wood grain or black. Ivory or white are the least popular of choices by a large margin, and can make it difficult to sell, period.

A lot of people believe there is a 'classic elegance' to a black piano. It's just a matter of taste, there's no logic about it. People have certain fantasies about what they believe having a grand piano in the home says about them.

I favor wood grain because I like wood grain, and it's also the better finish in terms of little scratches or flaws being less obvious, and easier to touch up.

A very dark stain like the old days tends to be unpopular. I would stay with a medium or lighter woodgrain look, to match today's tastes. People want to see the grain these days, even if it is mediocre. Don't forget that a 5' grand is a furniture piano, bought most often for deco purposes. If it's too outside the norm of today's decorating tastes, it can be very difficult to sell. People tend to not like a 'heavy' look these days.

The piano will have the best potential salability if it goes with today's furniture and home styles and is cheap.

Regards,

Rick Clark

Thanks again - I just read, and I will copy the quote here which came from bluebookofpianos.com that Schulz often had choices of finish bits so maybe my walnut music rack 'is' original. My feeling are now towards black plus clear coat as my grain would look washed out unless it was stained dark as it has had so much sanding in the various refinishing attempts! Anyway I thank you for your kind input and here is the quote but it sounds like sales baloney to me as I have never on this NG had any kind words for my poor old Schulz

Quote from bluebookofpianos.com . 'M Schulz Co. - Grand and Reproducing Pianos known throughout the piano world as instruments of the highest class. The M. Schultz piano of the best known, most highly organized, reputable and extensive piano manufacturing concerns in the country. Technically, the instruments made by this concern and note for scientific correctness of scale, highest grade of workmanship, and extreme care in choice of only the finest in material, backed up by long experience. The tone quality of M. Schulz pianos is the strong point of them, possessing a roundness, purity and mellow singing beauty all its own.'

Cheers,

Mike Stevens

Mike, I've recently purchased a Schulz player piano from around 1922? (ser# 140482) and am in a similar quandry as I would like to restore and make it at the very least manually playable and looking good. This one has the original shellac finish over what I assume is a straight grained red mahogany veneer. Kind of hard to tell for sure since it's all orangepeeled and scuffed with age...

As for pianobluebook, I believe they are quoting from Schulz promotional sales lit which might be a tad biased. (:

This here Schulz is fairly out of tune but it IS interesting that when I blow tenor sax near it, the strings start to resonate quite loudly in sympathy (more like pity) to my rotten axmanship. Never had a piano do that before so these old Schulz' may indeed have some magical properties. Sure hope so. Health & Peace! Uncle Lucky

Here is an update for you.

Since I last posted I have removed the old (latex white!) finish from the Schulz and brass brushed the veneer and wire wool-ed it down to the original which was mahogany - and very beautiful consistent grain too. The original mahogany had been stained ebony. I know this 'cos under the plate and the action the original finish can be seen so I decided to restore it back as was and have stained the mahogany ebony and it looks like a new piano of great beauty. No comparison to modern pianos save the best. I was fortunate that no veneer was missing and no damage had been done to it.

I next will tung oil the wood to rejuvenate it as it is very dry. Next step is still up for grabs. The original would have been to fill the grain and polish with shellac - some say finish with a quality wax like Briwax. I will make this decision early next week when I have the legs back on. I think I will do a test on the legs tomorrow - one wax and one shellac. If I go with the wax it will need constant polishing and if I go with the shellac it will be authentic, so right now I am 2:1 for the shellac. Shellac IS the right treatment for the soundboard.

I AM SO GLAD that I did not give in to the temptation to spray it with modern black lacquer and clear coat it. The original ebony has so much more warmth and colour - and as Steve Van Natten suggested to me - shows the beauty of nature in the grain. I am so happy I did not kill that grain with lacquer. I am convinced now that lacquers and clear coats are for covering cheap wood.

players. I'd love to see it, where are you? I am in the southern California mountains.

Mike Stevens

Thanks Jane:

I am amazed how beautiful this old Schulz is beginning to look - but I know the difficult part is getting it to sound good too!

Mike Stevens

Since I last posted I have removed the old (latex white!) finish from the Schulz and brass brushed the veneer and wire wool-ed it down to the original which was mahogany - and very beautiful consistent grain too. The original mahogany had been stained ebony. I know this 'cos under the plate and the action the original finish can be seen so I decided to restore it back as was and have stained the mahogany ebony and it looks like a new piano of great beauty. No comparison to modern pianos save the best. I was fortunate that no veneer was missing and no damage had been done to it.

I next will tung oil the wood to rejuvenate it as it is very dry. Next step is still up for grabs. The original would have been to fill the grain and polish with shellac - some say finish with a quality wax like Briwax. I will make this decision early next week when I have the legs back on. I think I will do a test on the legs tomorrow - one wax and one shellac. If I go with the wax it will need constant polishing and if I go with the shellac it will be authentic, so right now I am 2:1 for the shellac. Shellac IS the right treatment for the soundboard.

I AM SO GLAD that I did not give in to the temptation to spray it with modern black lacquer and clear coat it. The original ebony has so much more warmth and colour - and as Steve Van Natten suggested to me - shows the beauty of nature in the grain. I am so happy I did not kill that grain with lacquer. I am convinced now that lacquers and clear coats are for covering cheap wood.

players. I'd love to see it, where are you? I am in the southern California mountains.

Mike Stevens