Cavendish Pianos - a new era for British piano makers
“I’m sorry we do not have such a thing as an English Piano”.
These are the words Adam and Charlie Cox, a husband and wife team
running Yorkshire Pianos, found themselves saying to many of their
customers looking for a new piano.
“People grew up with British pianos at school and at home and we find
that when people come to buy their own piano they are often looking
for that mellow sound that they grew up with”, says Charlie.
When the Kemble factory closed in Milton Keynes a few years ago, it
sounded the death knell for British pianos making. It was the last
remaining factory and when the gates closed for the final time skilled
workers, some of whom had been involved in the piano industry all
their lives, found themselves with nowhere to turn.
“We felt we had no choice but to either lose British Piano
manufacturing forever, or try to resurrect the art of making pianos in
Britain” says Adam.
Having traded for 15 years in Leeds as Headingley Pianos, the team
searched for new premises to not only act as showroom, but also as
piano manufacturing base. They looked at shops, industrial units,
church-halls… even a church! After well over a year’s searching they
had almost given up looking.
“Then one day I was on a bike ride to Bolton Abbey” says Adam “I knew
immediately it was the right place for us as I peered through a window
and saw a large barn of a room. What an acoustic I thought!”
Of course when they took it on it is was more like barn than a piano
showroom and workshop but with the use of a bank loan and the help of
local Wharfedale firms they were able to transform it and it is now
perfect for their needs.
“Lots of people ask if it was originally a church or chapel” says John
Spencer, head technician, “reclaimed ecclesiastical panelling and
doors were used in the conversion but it was built originally as a
forge.” Situated just off the busy A59 at the foot of Beamsley Beacon
with wonderful views in all directions it’s certainly an inspiring
place to work.
The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire paid them a visit early on and were
interested and then excited at the prospect of a piano shop and
manufacturing base on their estate at Bolton Abbey.
“They have backed our project every step of the way so we felt
‘Cavendish’ was the perfect name for our pianos, being the Duke and
Duchess’ family name. Without their kind patronage none of this would
have been possible”, says Charlie.
“We often talk in orchestral terms when describing piano sound. We are
looking for woodwind with undertones of strings rather than brass.”
“Price-wise things are starting to go full circle” says Charlie. The
days of cheap far Eastern pianos are ending as their manufacturing
costs are steadily going up (some Chinese pianos have almost doubled
in cost in the last few years) and shipping prices are soaring. We
find ourselves in the position where British goods actually can
compete with far eastern goods in the UK.
“Unlike microwave ovens, pianos are one of those things that are
better used in their country of origin” says Adam “They are very
susceptible to climate changes. After all, you have to remember they
are a complicated wooden machine which has been made in the same way
for a hundred years."
They have already had interest from many quarters and are just
managing to keep up with orders at the moment. Cavendish pianos are
even being well received in China explains Adam, "we exhibited at the
enormous Shanghai Music Fair last year which was a real eye-opener.
There is such a great appetite for quality pianos in China." Export to
China now makes up a large part of Cavendish sales.
"We have been involved with pianos all our working lives - they
are just such beautiful things! We feel proud to be making them"
say Adam and Charlie. It seems to me they have a right to feel
proud producing pianos in Yorkshire using not just traditional
skills, but love.
There is no shortage of skilled workers in the
piano industry and allied trades in this country. In fact, many
components are still made here and exported all over the globe for
piano making abroad.
“We felt it was crazy that British expertise was being used to make
the highest quality components for the piano industry and yet no
finished products were being made in this country” says Adam. For
example, Hainsworth in Leeds produce cloth and felt used in the
manufacture of many German pianos such as Steinway.
“Their quality is second to none and they’re on our doorstep while
people are buying pianos manufactured in the Far East!”
As one of the oldest companies in the UK (established 1783) Hainsworth
certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to textiles and their
knowhow and heritage is legendary in the piano trade. It's no
coincidence that one of the leading woollen mills should be in Leeds,
famous throughout the world for its history of textile production. It
was however coincidental that their wood source, British Hardwoods,
should be based in the Yorkshire Dales.
Also their supplier of wood finishes is near the traditional cabinet
making town of Thirsk. Silchrome Plating in Leeds, founded in 1949,
work in everything from aerospace to classic cars. Cox says "We
quickly started to realise we were not making ‘British pianos’ but
‘Yorkshire Pianos’.
“We were not using Yorkshire firms as a gimmick or because we liked
the idea but simply because they are the best in their field.”
Surrounded by pianos in various states of construction, John Spencer,
head technician at Yorkshire Pianos, sits down at a newly finished
Cavendish piano. “Of course the sound is the important thing” says
Spencer. “We are looking for that rounded, European tone that is part
of British piano heritage.” Spencer plays a smooth sounding chord then
moves over to a well known Far Eastern made piano and does the same.
The difference is staggering!
The Cavendish team
The team with Jamie Cullum
Adam Cox
Managing Director
Charlotte & Adam are partners in the family firm which began in 1990 as Headingley Pianos and later moved out of Leeds to become Yorkshire Pianos. With over 20 years experience in the piano trade they have always wanted to build pianos and in many ways this is the realisation of a dream.
Chris Foxton
Head Cabinet Maker
Chris is a skilled cabinetmaker based in Otley, West Yorkshire. He has a lifetime's experience working in fine woods and veneers.
Adam Connolly
Workshop Manager
Adam Connolly joined us in 2010 and rose through the ranks from lowly apprentice to workshop manager. Adam overseas all building processes with his watchful eye..
Emmanuel Vass BMus(Hons), CT ABRSM, DipABRSM
Piano Consultant
Emmanuel is an up and coming young concert pianist named as Yamaha's artist of the month. He has helped develop the Cavendish piano sound and is well aware of the needs of performing artists.
Mike Derrett
Head Technician
Mike joined the team in 2017 after graduating in piano technology at Newark. A highly skilled piano builder, Mike is responsible for action building on all Cavendish pianos.
Pippa Cox
Piano Tuner and Technician
Our middle daughter, Pippa, is a piano tuner both in house and looking after Cavendish pianos post-sale in customers' homes. A skilled stringer and piano technician.
Mark Challinor
Mark began building pianos with Laurence and Nash in the 1980s. Mark is also a well-respected guitar restorer. He works on soundboards and bridges.
Daisy Cox
Daisy Cox, our eldest daughter works in the office and looks after the websites designing and updating.
Charlie Cox
Financial Director
David Wilson
Piano Designer
Originally educated as a design engineer
with 15 years experience, David turned a life-long interest in
furniture making into a new career in 2003 after training at Leeds
College of Art and Design. Well grounded in traditional and modern
furniture making materials and techniques, David's passion is for
applying a clean-lined engineering approach to his designs while still
creating superbly crafted furniture, always without compromise.
Dovetailors
Felix Dombay-Walker
Apprentice Piano Maker
Felix Dombay-Walker joined us in 2018 as an apprentice piano maker. He has quickly learned the trade and is responsible for a range of jobs from prepping keys and action to regulation work.
Ken Forrest
Ken Forrest, one-time president of the Piano Tuners Association, works with us fly-finishing pianos and preparing pianos prior to dispatch.
Cavendish Pianos is proud to be making in Britain
Tradition
There is a tradition of piano making in Britain which stretches back over 200 years. Many of history's greatest composers owned and played British pianos; Chopin, Liszt, J.C. Bach among many others. In "The golden age of piano making" Britain boasted 360 piano makers at the turn of the century which supplied the entire globe. Sadly, this great industry has now all but disappeared from our shores. Notably in April 2003 The British Piano Manufacturing Co. and in October 2009 Kemble Pianos closed their gates for the last time.
Craftsman's Co-operative
Award winning Cavendish Pianos, based in
Yorkshire, are resurrecting the lost art of piano making in Britain
through the creation of a Craftsman's Co-operative. Piano Builders,
Action specialists, Stringers, Cabinet-makers, Polishers, and
PianoTuners all exist in this country.
Through the Craftsman's Co-operative these skills have been pooled
together to create a single finished product. Thus, rather than being
produced in one factory, Cavendish Pianos are made by a series of
small businesses each with their own speciality. This promotes a
higher degree of efficiency, less waste and more integrity and pride
in each individual aspect of the piano's make-up.
Craftsmanship-based small businesses in the UK are often finding
themselves marginalized by mass-produced imported goods. Cavendish
Pianos supports home-grown business and believes such firms can be
competitive, have a part to play and a real future.
Many components also continue to be made in this country. British
felts and cloths are widely regarded as the worlds finest.
String-makers still exist who have learned the specialized skill of
hand winding piano strings have practised all their lives. British
oak, ash and walnut is used for components and cabinets. A high grade
hammer and British made strings and design give Cavendish Pianos their
distinctive classic, European tone. This is a far cry from the harsh
Japanese tone of many mass-produced pianos. In many ways taste in tone
has gone full circle as we see a tendency for people to prefer a more
mellow, sweeter, traditional sound.
Our Patrons
Our patrons, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire (Cavendish) have a long illustrious history as patrons of the arts, and music in particular.
The building of Cavendish Pianos takes place on the beautiful Bolton Abbey Estate.
We are indebted to them for their continued support.
The Cavendish partners
The Piano College
Cavendish Pianos is partnering with The Piano
School at Lincoln College. The Piano school is the last remaining
place where piano technology is taught in Britain. We believe it is
vitally important to keep piano making skills alive in the UK
British Hardwoods
The first oak log was converted at Lotherton
Hall in the Vale of York in 1993. Using a mobile chainsaw mill
purchased with the help of a £3000 loan, Joiner and Wood Machinist
Tony Fillingham gradually built-up a stock of mature hardwoods from
fallen and inaccessible logs. In 1994 the first kiln was commissioned
drying 250 cu. ft. per month. This was closely followed by the
installation of timber processing machinery.
British Hardwoods has moved premises three times since then and now
operates from its own 14500 ft² purpose built factory on the edge of
the Yorkshire Dales.
Brimming with state of the art machinery and quality kiln dried
hardwoods, the unit also boasts superb offices, showrooms, a trade
counter and shop. The entire building is heated with an eco-friendly
system utilising waste shavings and all timber used, comes from
sustainable resources. British Hardwoods also has excellent
environmental credentials.
Renner Hammers
Louis Renner began on a very modest level with
the production of piano mechanism in October of 1882. Renner today is
the largest, independent purely action manufacturer for upright and
grand pianos in the world. The company's success is due to their
ability to produce custom made actions for the individual customer.
Apart from Schimmel, Renner mechanisms are exclusively used by such
reputable companies as Steinway & Sons in Hamburg, Fazioli/Italy,
Bösendorfer/Austria, Grotrian-Steinweg, Bechstein Ibach, Feurich,
Seiler, Sauter, Steingräber & Söhne, Pfeiffer, Leipziger
Pianofortefabrik, Zimmermann, Steinberg, Blüthner, and Förster. In
other words, all the German piano manufacturers. Moreover, Renner can
count other reputable European piano manufacturers among their
customers, such as Rameau, Generalmusic, Petrof, ERA Seidl, Calisia,
Legnica, and in Asia such famous companies as Daewoo, Samick, Young
Chang, Kawai as well as all well-known companies on the American
market such as Baldwin, Charles Walter, and Mason & Hamlin.
Making use of the latest know-how in the application of computers and
electronic controls, superior quality is produced, as the former
premier of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Lothar Späth, said: "Quality is
honesty in action" or as a Swabian put it: "Quality, that's a matter
of decency."
Hainsworth Textiles
With over 30 years of proven experience
Hainsworth partner the most prestigious names in the piano market
including Steinway and Renner. Our pure new wool woven cloths provide
excellent shape retention and durability. Our ISO9000 standing and
strict quality control throughout the production process enables
manufacture to the tightest tolerances.
The cloths are designed specifically to fulfil their unique part
within the piano – from the smooth movement of the pin to the ultimate
cushioning of the hammer. As the world leader Hainsworth can adapt our
proven quality cloths to conform to customers own manufacturing
specifications. Our constant aim is to give our customers consistency
and stability of product to allow for the most effective smooth and
quiet use of the cloth within the piano. Our fully equipped in-house
conversion facility allows us complete flexibility in providing
tailored products sizes to our customers' end uses– offering the full
range of washer and strip sizes.
Pianostrings
Piano strings are hand spun by Barney Unwin
and can be supplied for grand pianos of all sizes and for all upright
pianos.
Fitting piano strings is a skilled job and should be carried out by an
experienced piano tuner or piano technician. Each piano string,
whether made individually or as part of a set of piano strings, is
made to order so you can be sure that your piano strings will fit your
piano perfectly.
Piano strings hand spun by Barney Unwin are competitively priced and
are shipped worldwide including the UK, the USA and Europe.
Barry Caradine
Polishers
Unrivalled expertise and vast experience combine to provide the most
complete and versatile pianocraft service on offer. Barry and Roberta
can restore the most worn-out and mistreated instruments to original
condition. For a new lease of life for your instrument, contact Barry
Caradine. You'll find it's music to your ears.
Barry started his piano restoration and refurbishing business after a
career with Bösendorfer as a concert technichian in the UK. He
qualified after training under Malcolm McKeand, at the London college
of furniture. Carradine bought up equipment from the Kemble factory on
its closure in the UK which is used to make parts for Cavendish
pianos.
Delta Adhesives
Our company success is based upon a commitment
to first class products and service with the customer at the centre of
everything we do.
Our high quality products remain at the core of our business and
continuous development, including Worldwide exports, combined with
excellent technical service has ensured Delta Adhesives retains a
leading position in a competitive market.
The adhesive market is constantly evolving, Delta Adhesives record of
developing products that give excellent results on the most difficult
materials, will ensure that customers can continue to specify our
grades with confidence that their needs will be met.
Rydenor Wood Finishes
Established in the North Yorkshire village of
Sowerby near Thirsk in 1965, Rydenor Products was acquired by Geoff
and Anne Etherington in 1980 and moved seven miles south to the
village of Hutton Sessay.
The company has expanded and developed in that time constantly
broadening and upgrading its wood care product range.
A move from the buildings in Geoff's backyard to a purpose-built
commercial unit between Dalton and Topcliffe in 1992 further enhanced
the company's ability to serve its customers. Geoff's son Roger joined
in 1989 and now runs the company.
Rydenor's wood care product range is vast, from it's own 'Waxwing'
range of waxes and French polishes, through to many other products
found in the restorer's workshop, to lacquers, stains and waxes from
the leading manufacturers.
H.J.Fletcher & Newman
Supplying Piano Parts to Piano Tuners,
Manufactures, Technicians, Schools, Colleges and Universities all
round the world for over 124 years with:
Action Leather, Action Parts, Tools, Springs, Strings, Legs, Music
Desks, Castors, Keys, Key covering, Tuning forks, Damper felt, Felt,
Baize, Wire Cutters, Regulating Tools, Hammers, Piano Tuning Tools
and many more items......
Henry Shaw & Sons
Henry Shaw & Sons Ltd has always been a
family firm. Founded by Henry Shaw in 1799, the company was initially
set up as a manufacturer of wrought nails, rivets and chains. Henry
bought a house in Park Street, Birmingham from a Mr Lloyd (later of
Lloyd's bank fame) and leased two warehouses from Great Western
Railways.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Now in its third century of continuous service, Henry Shaw & Sons
Ltd has become one of the UK's largest trade suppliers of woodscrews,
fixings and fastenings, nails, bolts ironmongery and fencing products.
Dickens Brothers Ltd
Dickens Brothers Ltd is a small family
company, which has been producing leather since 1897. The founder of
Dickens Brothers, William John Dickens was born in 1860, the son of a
village shoemaker.
John Dickens (his preferred choice of name) spent all of his early
working years in various leather related trades before deciding to set
up his own business in 1897. Two years later he decided that new
premises were necessary and acquired land to have a purpose built
factory situated in Kettering Road Northampton. This was completed in
1900 and this where we still produce leather today.
During a century which has seen many industrial disputes in the wider
economy, Dickens Brothers was hardly affected. In fact in the general
strike of 1926 just a handful of days was lost.
At least ten Dickens Brothers employees clocked up more than 50 years
service during the century of existence. The spirit of the company has
always been that the directors worked along side the employees and
today Brian Dickens can be seen in the warehouse amongst bales of
rough leather and horses of finished leather.
Thomas Flinn & Co
At Thomas Flinn & Co., we have been
providing high quality saws all over the world since 1923. Many of our
brands have history dating back into the 18th century and are well
recognised as the sign of quality in saw making. Our brands include:
PAX, Lynx (The Garlick Saw Company) and more recently, the Dorchester
and Parkstone brands which originate from Roberts & Lee Saws. We
are proud to be standing as the UK's only remaining traditional saw
manufacturer. We pride ourselves on having a skilled combination of
modern technology and traditional hand craftsmanship associated with
only the finest saw manufacturing. We intend to provide only the
highest quality products which will last you a lifetime with care. Our
retail website enables us to continue our company ethos further, where
we aim to promote high quality, Sheffield made tools. Many of these
tools are also made by independently owned companies, which like
ourselves have lengthy history and generations of craftsman still
making these tools. It is through customer appreciation and support
that this tradition can continue into the 21st century.
Early Keyboard Agency
EKA or Early Keyboard Agency is a family run
business based in Oxford in the UK.
EKA specialise in the manufacture, sale and distribution of piano bass
strings as well as the restoration of Square Pianos, Harpsichords,
Spinets and Clavichords.
Dovetailors
Dovetailors cabinet makers produce made to
measure furniture and kitchens-furniture designs that are literally
tailor-made around you.
You give us an idea, and we make it by hand into something truly
bespoke. And if you don’t have an idea of what you’re looking for,
don’t worry, we can work it out together. We’re also quite handy at
creating designs that you’ll love before we even lift a chisel.
What makes us unique is that we hand-make furniture you won’t see
anywhere else, except maybe in your head. So for bespoke kitchens and
fitted furniture that’s made to your measure, you’ve come to the right
place. Everybody fits in around here.
Silchrome Plating
Silchrome Plating Ltd is a privately owned
company established in 1949 and offers a wide range of metal finishes
to a variety of industries.
These include:- Aerospace, Defence Industries, General and Precision
Engineers, Shop Fitters, Plumbers Merchants, Jewellers, Antique
Dealers, Classic Car and Motor Cycle Restorers to name a few.
Over the years the Company has received many customer and industry
approvals.
All processes are rigorously controlled to ensure all coatings and
finishes confirm with the relevant British Standards, Defence
Standards, American Military Standards or customer specific process
specifications.
Gabor Silent Pianos
The Gabor System is really a simple idea,
which can allow you to practice on your acoustic piano at any time at
all.
With a touch of a leaver you can stop the piano hammerheads short of
hitting the strings, so you can practice on your piano without
disturbing your neighbours or your dad who is watching football on the
television in the same room as the piano. Just put the headphone on
and play on your piano, and keep the music to yourself.
The Gabor System will take your acoustic musical instrument into
another dimension of the electrical world. This simple marriage of
acoustic with electric works very well, it allows you to play on your
acoustic piano and can sound like a Cathedral Pipe Organ, a string
quartet or anything you want it to sound like. The Gabor System
enables you to connect direct into your computer and record your
composition into your PC, and use it as a recording studio.
Heckscher & Co.
Heckscher & Company was established in
1883 by Siegmund Heckscher who had recently arrived in London from
Hamburg. The company moved to its existing Bayham Street premises
shortly afterwards.
Siegmund was succeeded by his son Leo, who ran the company until his
death in 1958. He had been assisted by his sons Derek and Roy, who
continued until their retirement in 1984. Martin Heckscher, Roy's son,
joined the company in 1971 and continues the family tradition as the
current Managing Director.
Since 1883 it has been our aim to provide all our customers in the
piano trade with the best possible service. That aim is as keen today
as it was then.
Tenniswoods Removals
Tenniswoods Removals Service
The right move.....
All Types Of Removals. Specialist Ombudsman approved scheme
guaranteeing quality service value & integrity by a vetted
removals company. Call us & ask for more comprehensive
information.
Our Experienced staff offer a high quality service including
specialist for piano's, antiques, paintings etc including full packing
if required.
*Local, National & International
*Full & Part Loads
*Complete Packing Service
*Packing Cases & Garment Cartons
*Expert Service Guaranteed.
Essex Hinge Co
We have more than 70 years experience plus the
design expertise and manufacturing capability to produce custom hinges
for demanding applications.
The high cost of initial tooling has been the drawback to producing
custom hinges by traditional methods. We have invested in state of the
art manufacturing equipment which overcomes this problem. This means
that high quality custom hinges can be produced quickly with minimum,
and in some cases, no tooling costs.
Our highly skilled team with state of the art manufacturing methods,
produce quality hinges you can rely on.
Smith and Allan
One of the UK's largest independent lubricant
manufacturers. The production of Smith and Allan lubricants dates back
to 1925, the intervening years have seen us forge strong and lasting
relationships with the world's largest additive manufacturers and in
particular with Shell Oils.
Anita Marquetry
Anita Lear Sancha MA RCA, Welsh Business Woman
of the Year 1999, formed Anita Marquetry in 1991 having developed a
passion for marquetry. The well established team of professional arts
graduates in our design studio are highly qualified, competent,
innovative and enthusiastic. They love their work and you will love
working with them. From initial contact the team will work alongside
the client giving advice on design, materials and techniques to ensure
the accurate interpretation of the concept. The combination of skilled
craftsmanship with modern technologies means that we can complete the
most complex projects in weeks rather than months. Our clients return
time and time again - a testament to our quality and service.
