Plate break after restringing

Carl Fischer fischerc@nevada.edu
Wed, 29 Oct 1997 10:27:27 +0000


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On Tue, 28 Oct 1997, Warren Fisher wrote:

> Dear List,
>
> After restringing a Paul G. Mehlin & Sons upright serial # 21406 and
in
> the process of bringing the strings up to 150 cents flat, I heard this

> loud bang and discovered a large crack in the left bottom of the plate

> where it curves around the corner from the bottom to the vertical.
>
> I have several questions:
>
> 1. What is my liability in this situation?
>
> 2. How much does plate repair cost usually?
>
> 3. I have over a thousand dollars worth of labor in this turkey
> already.  Will I be able to collect any of it if the plate can't be
> repaired.
>
> 4. How would you handle the customer?
>
> Thanks,

Warren,

Here's what happened to me.  When I was in Phoenix, AZ, a nice old lady
had a dream of owning a 'nickelodeon' piano.  She bought a retro-fit
unit from The Sharper Image, the piano was probably 100 years old.
Although it looked new on the outside, it needed a complete rebuild,
(strings, hammers etc.)  The lady paid $8000 for it, then called me to
tune it.  I gave her an estimate of $4000.
Before installing the new strings, I raised the nose bolt up to meet
plate.  It cracked during the chip tuning.  The lady then and there paid
me the $4000, bless her heart.  She said, "You did your work, you should
get paid."  We had no contract either.

If I recall correctly, The Sharper Image did take the piano back, after
a recommendation from Jim Coleman, Sr.  (My apologies to Jim Coleman,
Sr. if memory has slipped, it was a while ago, and I now suffer from
CRS-Can't remember @#$%)

According to the odds, I won't have the pleasure of repeating this
experience.

Best wishes,
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carl Fischer
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Piano Shop
702/895-0931

mailto: fischerc@nevada.edu
URL: http://www.nscee.edu/unlv/Music

 "When they took the 4th Amendment, I was quiet because I didn't deal
drugs. When they took the 6th Amendment, I was quiet because I am
innocent. When they took the 2nd Amendment, I was quiet because I don't
own a gun. Now they have taken the 1st Amendment, and I can only be
quiet."  Lyle Myhr


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