Metal Soundboards

[Benjamin Treuhaft]

C
OMMERCE OKs 103 MORE PIANOS TO CUBA
     Despite the U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba, the Commerce
Department last week approved a large shipment of new piano
strings and hammers, 70 gallons of chemical stripper for refinishing
cases, and half a ton of tools and assorted supples, together with
103 used pianos and organs, all bound for Havana.  This to
complement 23 pianos Berkeley piano tuner Benjamin Treuhaft will
be sending there this week as part of Send a Piana to Havana  - his
project to collect good used pianos to be rebuilt at the State
Rebuilding Workshop in Havana and distributed to deserving Cuban
musicians and students.
     Treuhaft took illegal trips to Cuba in 1993 and 1994 to
experience the cigars and rum, and to donate piano-tuning to a
population of musicians struggling away on worn-out pre-embargo
wrecks.  The Cuban government's Institute of Music got wind of the
visiting American felon (tuning with the enemy is punishible by 10
years in prison and $300,000 in fines under current U.S. law) last
November and asked him to look into bringing pianos over from the
States.  He agreed to try to fill a container (about 20 uprights and
grands), and on his return to the States began a direct-mail
campaign asking his customers, his colleagues, and Cuba well-
wishers for donations of pianos, parts, and cash for shipping.
     Since U.S. policy prohibits donations to Castro government
entities, it was to Treuhaft's astonishment that the U.S. gave
permission late last August to send the 23 pianos, and front-page
San Francisco Chronicle coverage of this development escalated
interest and donations so much that he decided to try for 103 more.
Rob Little of the Department of Missile and Nuclear Technology (and
Cuba-bound Pianos, apparently)  called Treuhaft with the good news,
adding he was sure the pianos will create "a lot of good will down
there."
     As a condition of the license the piano tuner must accompany
the shipment to Havana to ensure it is not used for the purposes of
"torture or human rights abuse".  He will travel illegally, as is his
custom.
     U.S. tuners beware: the Cuba policy changes announced late last
week by the Clinton administration are not soft on piano tuning,
they just make it a bit easier for Cuban-Americans to visit sick
relatives.
     Hey John - what document you want?
Benjamin Treuhaft
Make checks out to Havapiano