This is a superb 1958 Mason & Hamlin seven-foot Model BB grand piano in very good all-original condition. See video of playing (note- with string cover and lid down).
It has signs of normal wear and tear and a few small spots where the varnish has chipped (see pictures). But overall it has been very well cared for since it left the factory 66 years ago. It is due for regulation, cleaning, and of course tuning. With routine maintenance, this piano will go head to head with any golden-era Model BB. This was her personal, beloved player, which she did not allow her students to play.
As I recall, the student piano was a well-worn grand that sat next to the M&H in her front room. She had clearly cherished the BB over the years, and I have continued to love and care for it since. If you are considering purchasing a vintage Mason &Hamlin, you likely know that the company changed hands several times after WWII, resulting in inconsistent quality from instrument to instrument. SomeM&Hs from the 1950s simply didn't match the quality of the same model from a few decades earlier. And others were still the extraordinary instruments that made Mason & Hamlin legendary. This 1958 model, made in the Rochester, NY, factory, is oneof the finest original BBs you will find from the post-war period, with the resonance, tone, and huge volume of its pre-1932 siblings. Overall quality took a steady dive, hitting its nadir in the 1970s. Fortunately, the new owners of M&H are resurrecting the artisanal values that once made M&H the finest pianos in the world.I thought I'd have the BB forever, but I recently came into possession of a 1920 Steinway Model O that once belonged to my grandfather. I can't make a compelling enough case to the spouse for keeping two grand pianos in the living room, though it would be fun. Original bench (with storage) in dire need of refinishing. Newer padded and adjustable "artist" bench.
Custom wool string cover in red. Dehumidifier system installed underneath the piano. Price does not include moving, adjustments, repair, or tuning.