Hand Built
Cavendish Pianos differ from most pianos in that they are hand-built. But what does this mean and why is it important? Piano building by hand is a highly skilled craft which requires years of specialised training. Each piano is built over a period of weeks. The making of our Cavendish action alone takes over twenty-four man hours by an action builder. This ensures the highest quality of tone and feel to the piano. It is acknowledged there is no satisfactory mechanised substitute. The hands on approach is the only way to build the delicate wooden machine that is a piano.
The making of pianos has become highly mechanised which keeps costs down. Modern factories in the Far East can produce hundreds of pianos per day! Inevitably this not only compromises character of sound but also build quality which can be very variable. The benefits of building by hand are many and various…
Materials and their selection.
Wood is a natural material. No two pieces are exactly alike. When parts are handled by people they can be individually selected in a process of on-going quality control. It is well-know that every hand built piano is very slightly different with its own unique personal characteristics. This is because each piano is built in an individual way. A craftsman can pay attention to the “feel” of the materials and get the best out of them in a way that a machine never can.
Accuracy.
It is widely held that where accuracy is required a machine is superior to a human. However when each note has subtle differences the job of the craftsman is to bring evenness of touch. The subtle beauty of a piano is achieved through patience and artistry.
The Human Touch
Traditionally pianos have always been made this way by piano makers passing knowledge from generation to generation. The advent of the highly mechanised, “robot made” piano is a far cry from its hand built counterparts and although mass produced pianos are often priced around the level of a hand built piano they lack perhaps the most important characteristic of any musical instrument – soul.
The Cavendish Partners
Cavendish Pianos is partnering with The Piano School at Lincoln College. The Piano school is the last remaining place where piano technology is taught in Britain. We believe it is vitally important to keep piano making skills alive in the UK
The first oak log was converted at Lotherton Hall in the Vale of York in 1993. Using a mobile chainsaw mill purchased with the help of a £3000 loan, Joiner and Wood Machinist Tony Fillingham gradually built-up a stock of mature hardwoods from fallen and inaccessible logs. In 1994 the first kiln was commissioned drying 250 cu. ft. per month. This was closely followed by the installation of timber processing machinery.
British Hardwoods has moved premises three times since then and now operates from its own 14500 ft² purpose built factory on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
Brimming with state of the art machinery and quality kiln dried hardwoods, the unit also boasts superb offices, showrooms, a trade counter and shop. The entire building is heated with an eco-friendly system utilising waste shavings and all timber used, comes from sustainable resources. British Hardwoods also has excellent environmental credentials.
Louis Renner began on a very modest level with the production of piano mechanism in October of 1882. Renner today is the largest, independent purely action manufacturer for upright and grand pianos in the world. The company’s success is due to their ability to produce custom made actions for the individual customer. Apart from Schimmel, Renner mechanisms are exclusively used by such reputable companies as Steinway & Sons in Hamburg, Fazioli/Italy, Bösendorfer/Austria, Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein Ibach, Feurich, Seiler, Sauter, Steingräber & Söhne, Pfeiffer, Leipziger Pianofortefabrik, Zimmermann, Steinberg, Blüthner, and Förster. In other words, all the German piano manufacturers. Moreover, Renner can count other reputable European piano manufacturers among their customers, such as Rameau, Generalmusic, Petrof, ERA Seidl, Calisia, Legnica, and in Asia such famous companies as Daewoo, Samick, Young Chang, Kawai as well as all well-known companies on the American market such as Baldwin, Charles Walter, and Mason & Hamlin.
Making use of the latest know-how in the application of computers and electronic controls, superior quality is produced, as the former premier of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Lothar Späth, said: “Quality is honesty in action” or as a Swabian put it: “Quality, that’s a matter of decency.”
Bowman furniture (Otley)
Chris Foxton has been involved with fine woods and cabinet making all his life. He produces the exquisite cases for Cavendish Pianos using solid woods, hand tools, a master craftsman’s expertise and great patience and skill.
Aryma Marquetry
Anita Lear Sancha MA RCA, Welsh Business Woman of the Year 1999, formed Aryma Marquetry in 1991 having developed a passion for marquetry. The well established team of professional arts graduates in our design studio are highly qualified, competent, innovative and enthusiastic. They love their work and you will love working with them. From initial contact the team will work alongside the client giving advice on design, materials and techniques to ensure the accurate interpretation of the concept. The combination of skilled craftsmanship with modern technologies means that we can complete the most complex projects in weeks rather than months. Our clients return time and time again – a testament to our quality and service.
Priory Castors (Birmingham)
Priory Castor & Engineering Company Limited is a privately owned business that has been manufacturing castors since 1938.
The company began by specialising in castors and wheels for furniture and domestic appliances, but quickly expanded into a much wider range of applications.
Silchrome Plating Ltd is a privately owned company established in 1949 and offers a wide range of metal finishes to a variety of industries.
These include:- Aerospace, Defence Industries, General and Precision Engineers, Shop Fitters, Plumbers Merchants, Jewellers, Antique Dealers, Classic Car and Motor Cycle Restorers to name a few.
Over the years the Company has received many customer and industry approvals.
All processes are rigorously controlled to ensure all coatings and finishes confirm with the relevant British Standards, Defence Standards, American Military Standards or customer specific process specifications
Supplying Piano Parts to Piano Tuners, Manufactures, Technicians, Schools, Colleges and Universities all round the world for over 124 years with:
Action Leather, Action Parts, Tools, Springs, Strings, Legs, Music Desks, Castors, Keys, Key covering, Tuning forks, Damper felt, Felt, Baize, Wire Cutters, Regulating Tools, Hammers, Piano Tuning Tools
and many more items……
With over 30 years of proven experience Hainsworth partner the most prestigious names in the piano market including Steinway and Renner. Our pure new wool woven cloths provide excellent shape retention and durability. Our ISO9000 standing and strict quality control throughout the production process enables manufacture to the tightest tolerances.
The cloths are designed specifically to fulfil their unique part within the piano – from the smooth movement of the pin to the ultimate cushioning of the hammer. As the world leader Hainsworth can adapt our proven quality cloths to conform to customers own manufacturing specifications. Our constant aim is to give our customers consistency and stability of product to allow for the most effective smooth and quiet use of the cloth within the piano. Our fully equipped in-house conversion facility allows us complete flexibility in providing tailored products sizes to our customers’ end uses– offering the full range of washer and strip sizes.
Hellerbass
Widely regarded as the finest makers of piano bass strings, Hellerbass produce bass strings of consistently flawless quality.
At Thomas Flinn & Co., we have been providing high quality saws all over the world since 1923. Many of our brands have history dating back into the 18th century and are well recognised as the sign of quality in saw making. Our brands include: PAX, Lynx (The Garlick Saw Company) and more recently, the Dorchester and Parkstone brands which originate from Roberts & Lee Saws. We are proud to be standing as the UK’s only remaining traditional saw manufacturer. We pride ourselves on having a skilled combination of modern technology and traditional hand craftsmanship associated with only the finest saw manufacturing. We intend to provide only the highest quality products which will last you a lifetime with care. Our retail website enables us to continue our company ethos further, where we aim to promote high quality, Sheffield made tools. Many of these tools are also made by independently owned companies, which like ourselves have lengthy history and generations of craftsman still making these tools. It is through customer appreciation and support that this tradition can continue into the 21st century.
Jahn
Jahn Pianoteile is legendary in the world of Pianos having supplied parts to all major manufacturers for generations. In addition, their teaching and seminars are an invaluable source for piano makers throughout the world.
Roslau Strings
The highest quality piano wire available is produced by Roslau. For generations their wire has been used on the finest instruments in Europe.
Established in the North Yorkshire village of Sowerby near Thirsk in 1965, Rydenor Products was acquired by Geoff and Anne Etherington in 1980 and moved seven miles south to the village of Hutton Sessay.
The company has expanded and developed in that time constantly broadening and upgrading its wood care product range.
A move from the buildings in Geoff’s backyard to a purpose-built commercial unit between Dalton and Topcliffe in 1992 further enhanced the company’s ability to serve its customers. Geoff’s son Roger joined in 1989 and now runs the company.
Rydenor’s wood care product range is vast, from it’s own ‘Waxwing’ range of waxes and French polishes, through to many other products found in the restorer’s workshop, to lacquers, stains and waxes from the leading manufacturers.
Heckscher & Co.
Heckscher & Company was established in 1883 by Siegmund Heckscher who had recently arrived in London from Hamburg. The company moved to its existing Bayham Street premises shortly afterwards.
Siegmund was succeeded by his son Leo, who ran the company until his death in 1958. He had been assisted by his sons Derek and Roy, who continued until their retirement in 1984. Martin Heckscher, Roy’s son, joined the company in 1971 and continues the family tradition as the current Managing Director.
Since 1883 it has been our aim to provide all our customers in the piano trade with the best possible service. That aim is as keen today as it was then.
Henry Shaw & Sons
Henry Shaw & Sons Ltd has always been a family firm. Founded by Henry Shaw in 1799, the company was initially set up as a manufacturer of wrought nails, rivets and chains. Henry bought a house in Park Street, Birmingham from a Mr Lloyd (later of Lloyd’s bank fame) and leased two warehouses from Great Western Railways.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Now in its third century of continuous service, Henry Shaw & Sons Ltd has become one of the UK’s largest trade suppliers of woodscrews, fixings and fastenings, nails, bolts ironmongery and fencing products.
Kluge Keyboards
Kluge produce for the most prestigious makers of Pianos and are rightly considered masters of their craft.
Dickens Brothers Ltd
Dickens Brothers Ltd is a small family company, which has been producing leather since 1897. The founder of Dickens Brothers, William John Dickens was born in 1860, the son of a village shoemaker.
John Dickens (his preferred choice of name) spent all of his early working years in various leather related trades before deciding to set up his own business in 1897. Two years later he decided that new premises were necessary and acquired land to have a purpose built factory situated in Kettering Road Northampton. This was completed in 1900 and this where we still produce leather today.
During a century which has seen many industrial disputes in the wider economy, Dickens Brothers was hardly affected. In fact in the general strike of 1926 just a handful of days was lost.
At least ten Dickens Brothers employees clocked up more than 50 years service during the century of existence. The spirit of the company has always been that the directors worked along side the employees and today Brian Dickens can be seen in the warehouse amongst bales of rough leather and horses of finished leather.
Abel
Abel are a family firm of piano hammer makers from Frankenhardt, a pretty village in Germany. Their famous hammers are used throughout the world.
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