Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Custom plate finish with restored, hand-painted filigree for 1901 Packard

Bridge restoration

Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Tail-view of completed 1900 Packard total restoration and rebuild. 2017.

When this piano came to WPW, it had been living in a shed near the coast. Unbeknownst to the owners, movers, and WPW, a rat had been living inside the piano for some time.

2016-2017

Here's how the keyboard looked after total restoration. 2016 - 2017.

Packard interior before restoration. 2016.

Packard interior after new soundboard, pin block, strings, action, and plate refinish. 2017.

This Packard from 1900 came to WPW in the worst condition we ever saw a piano. There was a rat living inside of it, and it had been stored for several years in a barn at the coast. After a total rebuild, it left the shop looking like this. 2017

Building a soundboard

Three fall boards for pianos serviced/rebuilt by WPW in 2016-2017.

Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Bare leg, stripped for refinishing

Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Hammer-veneering the body of Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Hand-rubbed clear finish on walnut Steinway & Sons Model M. 2015.

Custom copper-plated hardware and matching copper plate finish. 2015.

Hand-lettering a plate after refinishing. 2015

Drilling a new bridge

Fallboard detail. Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Rubbing out the lid prop. Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

New bass strings.

Rubbing out the lid. Steinway & Sons Model L. Hand-rubbed black lacquer, satin finish. Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Fitting the plate. Unique custom copper-finish plate by request of client. Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Detail of Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Measuring and applying veneer to lid. Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Stringing Steinway & Sons "Sunburst" veneer project. Veneer design and execution by Watson Piano Works, 2015.

Completed case restoration of walnut Model M. Hand-rubbed clear finish reveals the natural beauty of the walnut veneer, which had previously been concealed beneath an opaque finish. 

Steinway & Sons Model M with restored walnut case. 2015.

Drilling out a fresh, new pin block for a S & S Model M. 2015.

Fitting a brand new, handmade pin block to the plate nice and snug. 2017

Here's the plate, refinished and almost ready for strings!

Steinway & Sons walnut Model M plate finish. 2015.

Before and after of Steinway Model M casters.

Here, Watson Piano Works has created a new, laminated bass bridge to replace an old, cracked bridge that had become unstable.

Refinishing the soundboard. 2015.

New hammers.