The first job I did with my early Christmas present was to carve the notches on the Style-X bass bridge. Having done this, the bridge pins were fitted, the tops filed flat, then the notches were varnished, and the tops of the pins lacquered.

Bass bridge on the Style-X has now been drilled. Next job will be to apply coats of black lead (to help the strings slide over the top of the bridge when the piano is tuned), carve the notches, and fit new bridge pins.

Lettering and final coats of varnish applied. Next job will be the fine fitting of the frame, followed by cleaning up the treble bridge, and carving the top of the new bass bridge.

Soundboard shaped to fit the case, and bridges positioned, and rough bearing set. Just about to glue the bridges on, then start varnishing the underside of the board. Tomorrow the board will be glued into the case.

A fine game played slowly….! The screw thread tuning system (known on upright pianos as a “top tuner” – because the threads point straight up) is very stable, but rather tricky to work with at the stringing stage.

Also note the newly capped treble bridge.

The newly fitted frame seen here tied down (all screws fitted), awaiting “dressing” (fitting the wooden and felt parts).

New soundboard fitted (Blüthner No.83988). Next job will be to shape the front edge, sand and seal the board, and apply the new transfer and serial number…

Callipers set up to position the bridges on the new soundboard.