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MMD > Archives > March 1997 > 1997.03.29 > 11Prev  Next


Lyon and Healy Player Piano
By Brian Thornton

Hey I got the same inquiry:
> It is a Lyon and Healy, Washburn full upright serial #6311.  It has
> a cherry finish and is probably pre W.W.II.  I was told by an elderly
> piano technician, 20 years ago, that the player mechanism was unusual
> in that it contains large banks of copper tubing,

Here's my response:

This is more likely Lead tubing with a copper finish or just orange
shellac.  Solid copper was too expensive even back in those days.
Several manufacturers used lead/alloy tubing.   A couple of the early
Washburns I've rebuilt had double valve Standard type actions,(which has
the lead tubing).  Later ones have H. C. Bay & Simplex, (which also has
lead tubing).

Lyon & Healy, as did many piano manufacturers, purchased player
mechanisms on a bid basis -- whoever gave the best price got the contract
for that year.  Sometimes it's hard to tell what kind of action can
be in a piano just by the name.  Knowing the type of action in a piano is
important, because the ease of rebuilding varies greatly from make to
make.   A Standard or Simplex is much easier to rebuild than the H. C.
Bay, which has to be sawn apart to get at the pouches.

Washburn is a very "middle of the road" piano in terms of tone quality
and construction.  Its unrestored value, based on condition and make of
player mechanism, ranges from $200.00 to $500.00  Hope this is some help

Brian Thornton, Short Mtn. Music Works¶
109 N. Cannon St., Woodbury  TN 37190¶
615-563-5814    http://www.mindspring.com/~goatboy/smmw.htm

(Message sent Sat, 29 Mar 1997 11:53:27 -0600 , from time zone -0600.)

Key Words in Subject:  Healy, Lyon, Piano, Player

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