‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAllow me to introduce myself. I’™m Bechstein.’ ‘ ‘  Music has been all my life. You must excuse my present, temporary home which is so dingy and dusty, I have lived in far grander homes than this, but met few who could match the gratiousness of Mr. Hawley.’  Mr, Hawley is an extremely nice man – all the more you get to know him.’  He has been so very kind to me and during my stay here, has done me so much good.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘  Excuse my being so dusty. I love being seen at my best but appearances are, of course, not everything you must know.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘  I’™m pleased to make your acquaintance.’  I can see you are well educated and that the young lady with you looks as though she must be your grand daughter.’  Am I right?’
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œBut again, I was forgetting, you did not come for my questions but to hear something about myself.’  I shall begin by saying that I began my career early in 1928.’  That was a great day for me of course. My potential was quickly noticed by a very successful teacher.’  I could see that he was delighted with me the moment he set eyes on me.’  His smile I think was as broad as my key board as he and I, I would like to use the expression,’  ‘˜conversed’™ for the first time.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œHis hands on my keyboard were both gentle and firm.’  When required, I had the volume and tone to expand even the most unfeeling’  of hearts.’  I was truly proud then of my builder.’  Proud to be a Beckstein.’  I am made with the skill that comes only with great dedication and love.’  Only the very finest of materials went into me.’  The best of seasoned oak, aluminium framing and diamond-drawn steel strings.’  In my youth, I was a magnificent example of the highest precision, quality and finish.’  I gleamed like a black mirror and my tone was deep and rich.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œThe teacher, trying me for my alacrity and range, played the most gentle of passages as well as the most stormy.’  He quite fell in love with me, and if I may make so bold, I took a great liking to him too.’  He recognised my style and class at once.’  I know that I cost him a pretty penny, but he paid happily, delighted with his acquisition.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œEnsconced in his warm home, I made music each day with great enthusiasm.’  We were both very happy.’  Of course I had to tolerate also far less accomplished fingers that seemed to plonk their way over my keys with no sensitivity.’  But patience is one of the virtues that I have in abundance – and love, so this fumbling was always all part of my life.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘ ‘  Unfortunately, those young, most enjoyable years were not many. The dear man took suddenly ill and, not many weeks later, sadly for all, died.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘  For many years after this tragedy I stood covered with a sheet, soundless and morose.’  Eventually I was moved to another home which, though far grander and more luxurious, I sensed immediately, was cold in spirit.’  The young lady who sat at my keyboard was gentle but not well versed in music nor endowed with an artistic touch. She was insensitive and sometimes, when her anger was roused, could be downright brutal on my keys.’  Those were sad years and much of my time I spent in unhappy solitude.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œAnother move in the middle fifties brought me to a conservatoire of music in central London. These years were my best. They were certainly’  my most lively.’  From time to time a true master would lay his hands on me.’  I’  can recognise the touch of a master instantly. How those hands would run over my keys!’  The music would warm my whole inside and I would respond with everything I had.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œI was still a remarkable instrument and no juniors were permitted to sit at my keyboard.’  At the conservatoire life was hectic.’  Most of all I delighted in playing in ensemble with viol, cello and bass.’  How we conversed!’  The sounds’  would flow between us with so much expression.’ ‘  Sometimes this communion would be sad and soft but often sonorous delightful and with much joy.’  These were the times I enjoyed the most and these memories I’™ll always have.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘  One occasion of especial significance was when no other than the world renowned Artur Rubinstein sat at my keyboard and with the conservatoire orchestra played to a packed hall the Rachmaninoff second concerto.’  If pianos could weep, I certainly would have done so then. His knarled knuckles were like a blacksmith’™s rather than those of a musician.’  Those fingers could conjure from me passages that were as soft as rose petals or create a storm of sound as the very thunder of the gale.’  That concert I shall always remember as the very peak of my career.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œMy life at the conservatoire lasted almost thirty years.’  Eventually the time came for my retirement.’  Truth to tell, I was indeed tired, and I can’™t say not in need of special care.’ 
‘ ‘ ‘  It was then that Mr. Hawley came to my rescue. He brought me here, to his workshop.’  The treatment he gave me has done me the world of good.’  Mr Hawley worked on me with much love and patience.’ ‘  Many of my hammers and couplings he replaced as well as most of the strings in my central keyboard.’  I feel once again’  fit and well.’  Of course not quite as I was in my prime, but there is certainly a lot of life still in me.’  The little dust on me can be easily wiped off – try a patch, see?’  Underneath I have still a remarkable sheen.
‘ ‘ ‘  ‘œThis is my tale, kind sir and if,’  I have any eye for an artist, I would say that the young lady with you has a true feel for music.’  The sparkle in her eyes as she looks at me tells as much.’  She has, I’™m sure, an artistic touch and I think it would be a joy to feel her hands on my keys.’  She reminds me of another at the conservatoire. She practiced hour upon hour with great dedication and love.’  That girl eventually became the Mrs. Carson, a pianist of great renown.’  Crowds flocked to fill the halls where she played. She spoke to me of those things dearest to her ‘“ her hopes and aspirations.
‘ ‘ ‘  It was a momentous occasion when she came to play in the grand hall.’  She not only did it for her teachers and friends whom she would never forget, in secret she told me that she wanted to sit once again at my keyboard.
‘ ‘ ‘  So please let the young girl try me. I’™m sure she will delight in the work of the great master who built me.’  After all, and I can with modest pride say that there are not many that can call themselves a ‘˜Bechstein Baby Grand’™.’