CBH Screening the nameboard inscription

• Always read the accompanying technical description!

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Carey Beebe screening and gilding the nameboard inscription.

The nameboard inscription is one of the final tasks before the instrument can be considered complete.

A silk screen is used for several years. The transparency of the CAREY BEEBE • MMX inscription—used in the manufacture of the screen—is taped in place on the nameboard. The nameboard position is precisely determined by sighting through the screen in its depressed position, and constrained with little blocks nailed to the baseboard. The screen is loaded with black Flex enamel and a test print or two made on a piece of thin gloss card. The screen is reloaded and two passes made. While the enamel dries ready for gilding, the screen is thoroughly cleaned with Mineral Turpentine.

When the enamel barely pulls the little hairs on the back of a finger, the gold can be applied without drowning. Here, genuine 23K gold leaf from a 25mm wide roll is used. The roll is unwound while the gold is lightly pressed onto the tacky enamel. A light brushing with a soft camelhair mop then removes the excess leaf.

The next day, the inscription is lightly polished with a cotton wool ball to remove any flake residue, and the nameboard can be screwed above the upper keyboard, finishing the instrument.

Photos of this instrument as work progresses can be found here: http://www.hpschd.nu/wip/53.html

Ruckers Double Harpsichord, Carey Beebe, Sydney 2010
commission for Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• harpsichord
• clavecin
• cembalo
• clavicembalo
• clave
• cravo
• Клавесин
• 羽管鍵琴
• ハープシコード
• チェンバロ
• 하프시코드
• Yong
• Siew
• Toh
• Conservatory
• Singapore
• Ruckers
• Flemish
• nameboard
• inscription
• signature
• screenprinting
• gilding
• gold
• hpschdnu

[josh9point0]

Do you worry that by creating these dozens of wonderful videos, and sharing them with the world, that you may actually help people to make their OWN harpsichords/clavichords/simil­ar instruments ?

Or would you WELCOME such an addition to the limited number of such instruments on this here planet ?

[hpschdnu]

I have a pleasant sufficiency of work, and no problem encouraging people to make their own instruments. Note that these videos only show ways that work for me, and how I might do some of the multitude of processes involved in building or maintaining historic keyboard instruments: A simple search will reveal possible alternate techniques (eg cutting a quill, or winding a string loop) used by my colleagues.

[josh9point0]

Nice! On the silkscreen, do you have "CAREY BEEBE * MMX" "CAREY BEEBE * MMXI" ""CAREY BEEBE * MMXII" ""CAREY BEEBE * MMXIII", etc. ?

When you go to do the final, actual screening on the nameboard, does it ever go wrong? If so, what do you do then? Clean it off with solvent and try again?

[hpschdnu]

Yes, the screen is made with inscriptions to last for several years. The two either side of the current screening area are covered with clear tape to prevent unintended bleed. Yes, in the unlikely event of a poor print, the Flex enamel can be immediately removed from the painted and varnished nameboard surface with White Spirit.

[tormus1]

Thank you for this video. Now I know how you applied the gold to my nameboard. I enjoyed playing the featured instrument in your workshop recently - lovely action and tone.