Restoration of period pianos, the subject of today's blogs

[music32]

https://arioso7.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/the-fritz-of-vienna-chopin-reincarnated/

The title is actually changed to J. Fritz Piano: the Romantic Era reborn

There are two companion blogs, the second has the complete text of Pat Frederick, (The Frederick Collection in Ashburnham, MA) on the subject of restorations.

The lead in story, is my true adventure, finding a period piano of great beauty whose tone, and Viennese action evoked the Romantic era. I ended up falling in love with the piano, and doing research on its origin, playing mechanism etc. It lead me in all directions, from CA to NY to MA.
Some of the thoughts are controversial, so I don't mind hearing divergent opinions.