Rusty strings at bridge

[Mark Bolsius]

Hi List
I read with interest in December's PTG journal (yes I'm a slow reader) in
the Q & A section about a piano with strings rusting only on the long
bridge.

There was a German grand in Sydney that developed precisely the same
problem. The piano tech suspected salt in the wood, but couldn't prove it.
After all sorts of denials on the part of the manufacturers, the owner in
desperation sawed off a chunk of the bridge with a pruning saw (!) to send
away for analysis.

The response from the lab was that there was more salt in that timber "than
I'd put on my fries!" The manufacturer had to then concede that the it was
faulty material used in the bridge and paid for a new cap.

Apparently when logs are sent down stream to be milled, the occasional one
gets away and heads into salty water. Being as valuable as they are, they
are rescued and still milled. Salt and all.

Thought it might interest those who contributed to that thread.

Now for the January edition!
Mark Bolsius