Help with opening Hagspiel Upright top, please

Hello all,

I have inherited a Hagspiel, Dresden upright piano. It has been in the family over four generations, originally purchased new for my great grandmother in Scotland in the late 1800s. It was the piano that I leaned to play on as a child and it still holds tune and plays well, despite its age.

I am having the piano shipped to my Chalfont St Giles home on Friday so we are removing any components that might get damaged in transit, for example the candelabras. Next we wanted to remove the music stand and from memory the stand folds inside the top of the piano. However there is a special way to open the top lid, which appears to have a hidden catch in the centre and we cannot see how to release it. I have asked my mother if she can remember how to open the lid but unfortunately her memory is not great these days.

Can anyone help please?

Thanks,
Ian

 

Ah, found it by trial and error. For anyone else in future experiencing similar frustrations: Push the centre upright of the music stand inwards, right at the top. This operates the internal catch that in turn releases the piano lid and then the stand simply flips over into the piano. Quod Erat Demonstrandum.