I have this beautiful Kranich & Bach upright player piano in
a quarter-sawn Mission Style case with a beautiful dark brown finish.
Condition-wise, I would say overall it's in nice condition for being
over 100 years old.  A Kranich & Bach brochure from 1912 describes the
piano as "wax finish only".  The grain has been filled with a dark
brown fill, dyed dark brown and then finished with shellac.  Perhaps
it was top-coated with a brown wax also.

Anyway, the lid has a fair amount of water staining and loss of finish
and I think it needs to be stripped and redone.  The rest of the piano
needs a good cleaning, some chips and dents filled in and then a fresh
coat of wax.

1. What is the best method to clean off the old wax and dirt without
damaging the shellac?

2. What is the best method for repairing the dents & dings and bits of
missing veneer?

3. What is the best wax to use?  Liberon Black Bison?  Briwax?  Minwax?
What color of wax is best, or what was used 100 years ago?

4. What recommendations can you give for re-finishing the top?  I can
send additional photos showing the damage to the top.

I'm sure the piano had more of a shine to it when it was new and that's
what I want to achieve.

Thanks!

Dave Krall
Hammond, Indiana

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