It's a veneer matching technique:

"Book Matching is the most commonly used match in the industry. Every other leaf is turned over as it is placed next to its mate. That is, every pair of leaves is opened like a book. When the figure is prominent, a repeating, symmetrical pattern is created. When the veneer is sliced a distortion of the grain occurs. The knife blade as it hits the wood creates a "loose" side where the cells have been opened up by the blade, and a "tight" side. Because the "tight" and "loose" faces alternate in adjacent pieces of veneer, they may accept stain differently, and this may result in a noticeable color variation called barber poling. This can be minimized, although not always eliminated, with good finishing techniques."

quote:

Originally posted by markj:
What is "matchbooking"?

It's taking two pieces of adjacent veneer and matching them against each other, to give the impression of a mirror image. I think it's also referred to as butterfly veneer:



See how there is a symmetrical mirror image of the grain pattern?

[edit] Ron beat me to it, and his explanation is better.

Cool!

Something else to do with an old, dead upright:



According to its creator, the Music Machine is an incredible addition to any living room, den, apartment, or studio.

The bizarre hybrid is a full digital recording studio built into a beautiful piano cabinet. It is based on a Mac Mini with a Lexicon Omega audio interface that is set up with 2 instrument inputs, one built-in studio-quality microphone, and an additional microphone jack. The piano keys have been replaced by a Studiologic 88 key MIDI controller which acts as piano, drum machine, and music interface.

The Music Machine is capable of multi-track recording and playback, music editing and sampling, demo production, karaoke, and is a full computer able to do anything a regular mac can do including DVD playback, web surfing, word processing, etc. There is a memory card reader built in to the front for inserting media as well as a 4-port USB 2.0 hub to plug in an external hard drive or an ipod. Musicians can sit down, record a single track, multiple tracks or a whole song, plug in their ipod and take it home or burn it right to a demo CD!

bigger picture at
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05092/481890.stm

Photo by Bill Wade
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Passersby may have thought they were halucinating yesterday, but the scene below them on the Allegheny River was actually the portrayal of a dream.

Artist Michael Pestel performed improvisational tunes while seated at a baby grand piano, floating on a section of a dock going down the back channel of the Allegheny River near Washington's Landing. The performance art, which lasted about an hour, was videotaped by Andrew Johnson, at center in the photo, and others for showing during an exhibition that will open Friday at Chatham College, where Pestel is an assocate professor.

During the performance, Johnson will collaborate with West Virginia professor Paul Krainak in a piece inspired by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. The river scene portrayed yesterday is part of a dream by Villa-Lobos, where he is floating down a river playing a piano when it catches fire.

The scene was executed with help from Mike Lambert, far left, of Three Rivers Rowing, who, with help from Eric Lipsky, pushed the dock with a boat.

ABP (Already Been Posted):

VERY old...

Vintage Barbie with Piano $500

Here's a busy little corner...

Hmmm... two pianos - must be Kenny's last piano party! (Isn't that him in front?)

quote:

Originally posted by rontuner:
Here's a busy little corner...

Antique samovars? Where did you find this?

being a google junkie, I just typed petite piano and found this french site:

http://www.linternaute.com/femmes/decoration/maison/06/evelyne/musique-xl

(I had to look up samovars....)

don't recall if I've posted this here before...

Nice rig!

.... and here's a new pinblock, after drilling.