sI hope I haven't chosen the wrong forum section, does anyone know any information regarding the piano brand WICKIE?? It is just a curiosity; some friends showed me the piano, unfortunately it has a broken soundboard and is probably unusable, but the action is well-preserved, also because it is a recent piano. Above all, the cabinet is very beautiful and original, designed in the 50s/60s and has a fold-out lid. On the frame, there is no other information besides the name in the photo. The action is Fritzmuller, if I'm not mistaken Italian, patent filed in 1955 in Turin.
I haven't found anything at all on the internet, but perhaps I am missing the right addresses.
Thank you in advance and compliments on the site full of excellent information, truly useful and interesting.
I dare say that it is probably a copy of a project assembled by a private craftsman. To such a name, I do not know of any piano manufacturer corresponding.
Hi Paolo, thanks for the answer. If over time someone stumbles upon this and [this] post can give me some more information regarding the piano or the mechanics, I will always be grateful.
Hi Antonio, I agree with Paolo since I read on the internet that this "Frizmuller" action was installed on Italian handmade pianos under the brand "Plairson", which would be the acronym for "Pianoforte Lavorazione Armonium Italiana Rinomato Stabilimento Oreste Napolitano".
Here is the registered company name: Fabbrica Di Pianoforti E Armonium Marca Plairson Di Oreste Napolitano E Figli S.N.C. - Contrada Cassano
80020 Casavatore (Naples) - started activity in 1961.
Furthermore, it seems that in Naples, at vico S. M. a Toledo n.2, there was a piano sales/production company operating from 1860 to 1901 registered to "Napolitano Angelo e Giuseppe".
Could one perhaps venture the hypothesis that the Wickie brand is an attempt to market these "Plairson" pianos with a more catchy name?
Some more detailed photos of the action might perhaps help the technicians present on the forum to tell us something more.
Here are some more photos of the mysterious Wickie; I reiterate that even upon closer inspection, there are no signatures or serial numbers. The only writing, done in pencil and hidden within the action, is a supposed "Baloire D. S." which you can partially see in the image below.
A question for the experts:
since the soundboard is cracked in three places but the soundboard/plate appears healthy, would you give it a chance at tuning? Or in your opinion, is it a waste of time? The action in general seems healthy to me.
You can certainly try to tune it. It depends on what the cracks produce. One must also check the crown of the soundboard and see how the bridges are positioned relative to the soundboard itself. The action seems to be in good condition. It should always be checked for efficiency (friction, etc.). The hammers must also be checked after tuning (hammer voicing).
