practice room benches

[Joel Jones]

on 3/5/01 10:31 AM, Wolfley, Eric (WOLFLEEL) at WOLFLEEL@UCMAIL.UC.EDU
wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> I just finished speaking with the people at Jansen Benches about the
> possibility of them producing and marketing an adjustable bench specifically
> designed for institutional use. We have many artist benches here, and lots
> of them are assigned to the (locked) piano-major practice rooms. They
> generally hold up pretty well and we have a spare-parts repair kit with
> spare shoulder bolts, bushings, etc. which keeps them going even longer. The
> problem we have here is mainly with the upholstery. The vinyl rips, buttons
> pop out, etc., and to get the thing re-upholstered is a major pain and
> expense. What I suggested was a strong, simple, adjustable bench with a
> slightly padded top that could be easily removed and re-upholstered or
> replaced. It would be similar to what they call their "petite" artist bench.
> I know practice room benches have a hard life, but adjustable benches are
> really needed in the piano major rooms to accommodate all the different size
> people and techniques.
> 
> How many of you out there would be interested in such a bench? We are going
> to be purchasing a bunch of benches in the near future and I would sure like
> to be able to get benches that will last longer and be easier to maintain. I
> hate dealing with benches, so anything that will make my life easier in that
> arena is attractive to me.
> 
> I told the people at Jansen that I would poll the caut list to see if there
> was interest in such a product, and if there is a good enough response, they
> will consider designing and producing a bench more suited to our needs.
> 
> So...waddaya think??
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Eric Wolfley, RPT
> Head Piano Technician
> Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
> University of Cincinnati
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
> 
Eric,
I use adjustable stools for the piano majors, and we have been satisfied
with the service from them.  Coincidentally  I have also been talking to
Jansen about reupholstering a bunch of these stools to give us more time.
    The problem with benches is the additional mechanism to break and give
repair problems.  If they can make a simple mechanism that doesn't need
bushings, etc. that might be useful.   If find the 'petite' benches
preferred and used over the regular artist benches particularly in the
concert halls.   
    There are a few adjustable chairs in our majors rooms, which are also
used and preferred.  The problem with these particular chairs is the
mechanism, which is a scissors type, but not easily adjustable.  The chairs
don't seem to disappear as fast as stools, or benches probably because they
are heavier and not so easy to carry away.
    Cost would tip our requisition funds as to which would be ordered for
replacements.  The reupholstering charge is less, so that gets funded  - or
not.
Joel
-- Joel A. Jones
Senior Piano Technician
1501 Humanities Building
455 North Park Street
Madison, WI  53706
FAX 608 - 262 - 8876
608 - 263 - 1887
http://uwpianos.music.wisc.edu/