>Wet it down again, this time w/gasoline, then toss a lighted match - from >a distance ,of course. I've seen more than a few where that might have been the kindest thing. One "piano" I was called to tune had been built from parts scrounged from a garbage dump where several pianos had been discarded. This enterprising fellow, who didn't know _anything_ about a piano, gathered up what he thought were enough bits to make a "free piano". It only had 87 notes because the keys and frame came from a different piano than the action and he had to add and subtract wood to make the keys fit, plus there were only two strings for most notes because that was all the wire he could salvage. He "tooned" it himself by comparing the notes to an electric organ, but decided after 10 years he should have a professional look at it. Not only was I amazed that what was there actually worked (after a fashion), but his three daughters had been practicing on it and all had passed their grade eight exams! But back to water damage... >Serious water problems obviously are not immediately evident. If insurance >is xxxxxx I should say since ins. is probably involved, and they will want >immediate estimates, you better either put a *big* caveat in it about slow >appearing damages, or expect to bid on a reconstruction including sound- >board and case rebuilding. And store it a year before you start... A Steinway S I look after had been water damaged after an illegal balcony a neighbour in the condo had built leaked all over it after a bad storm. The owner literally had to soak the water up inside with towels although thankfully the water hadn't damaged the keys (ivory) or much of the action. This instrument, which had deep sentimental value for the owner, was sent back to the factory in Long Island where it dried out for about a year before they went to work on it. Insurance is paying for the repairs as it is still cheaper to do that than replace the instrument. It is _still_ in the factory where they will keep it until they know it's right. BTW, some of the pictures I took a few days later were spectacular (from an amateur viewpoint). The variety of colours produced by the rapid corrosion of the strings and agraffes were quite beautiful when viewed through a 1:1 macro lens. Perhaps I'll try to have the best one scanned and upload it to a gopher service somewhere. John Musselwhite, RPT musselj@cadvision.com John Musselwhite, RPT Calgary, Alberta Canada musselj@cadvision.com john.muselwhite@67.cambo.cuug.ab.ca
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