Tuning an old Murdoch, Murdoch & Co upright

[cattlegrid_79]

Hi all

I've got an old upright by Murdoch Murdoch and Co. It's pretty ancient. I inherited it from someone and want to get back in to playing. However, currently not only is it incompletely in tune with itself, it's about 3 semitones flat off concert pitch.

Is there any chance this could ever be brought up to 440 or is that asking too much. It's the first acoustic piano I've owned so any advice appreciated.

Cheers

[hfmadopter]

Hi all

I've got an old upright by Murdoch Murdoch and Co. It's pretty ancient. I inherited it from someone and want to get back in to playing. However, currently not only is it incompletely in tune with itself, it's about 3 semitones flat off concert pitch.

Is there any chance this could ever be brought up to 440 or is that asking too much. It's the first acoustic piano I've owned so any advice appreciated.

Cheers

My random guess, you are into at least three tunings to get it to hold really well assuming all else is in good shape. And not worth while if it isn't in good shape. More information would be needed but the short answer is there is a chance. Too many variables surround old pianos to say how well or how many tunings it would take to get it there and not enough information to know if it's practical or not. Get a tech to visit you and look at your piano, he could tell better. He could assess string condition, loose pins and something to look out for in old uprights, is loose pin blocks in the piano. If ok, he might try pulling a few notes up close to 440 and see how it feels and then give you the assessment results..

[silverwoodpianos]

Approximately 4 tons of tensional weight is required to get up to A440. Best to have this one inspected by a local technician of your choice to see the viability of bring this one back to pitch.
 
 I believe this might be an English cottage upright.The majority of cottage uprights today will not sustain 440 tension for long if at all.

 Murdoch was a name used by several companies.  Spencer-Murdoch was one of the larger Murdoch companies that ran from 1885-1942.

[indianajo]

Standard pitch went up from 432 to 440 in the 1920's, this could be designed for the lower pitch.
A prewar upright is probably not worth the L300? for three visits minimum to get it up to pitch.  They sell for under L100. But they can be loads of fun, and often reliable pianos, even some the oddball brands , that might have used out of the catelog parts from competent suppliers.  I've played many old prewar uprights at old churches. The biggest problem is the ivory key cap peeling off, but I've played them like that without injuring myself. 
If you want to try to tune the treble to the bass, and come up a little, be sure to use safety glasses.  A wire might break.  hold your tuning tool straight at the shaft and don't wallow the edges off the square.  I took seven tries to get my 1941 Steinway up from awful, last tuned in 1966, to on pitch at 440. 

[chrisbutch]

My first piano was a 1940s Murdoch upright, which my mother bought new for me when I was six. Despite the straight-strung frame and 'birdcage' damper action, it was in many ways an excellent piano, with a delicate singing tone. I finally sold it only about ten years ago. If your piano was built to the same standards, it would certainly be worth restoring.

[silverwoodpianos]

Have the instrument inspected prior to applying any weight to the structure.

 There are three main reasons for an instrument to be found in this condition;

Tuning pins are loose and the piano will not remain in tune.

The frame is separating. If this is a ¾ plate instrument and the frame has separated it is very dangerous to apply any weight to the structure as the pin block is sitting on top of the plate in this design.

The third reason is simply neglect. The piano has not be tuned or cared for in years.