My legs are giving me a headache.

[Robert Goodale]

Howdy,

I have had a not so fun afternoon.  When I reported to the
performing arts center this morning I was told that the tail leg
on the Steinway had busted off.  I quickly ran down to check.
Sure enough there it was, sadly slumped over like a drunk piano
player.  The remains was laying on the floor, broken clean
through the dowel at the base.  Of course the bad news couldn't
end there.  That piano is needed for a concerto competition on
Thursday.

Perhaps it could be fixed if enough shop effort was put into it
but at his particular moment I don't have that kind of time.  I
got on the phone today to see if I could get Steinway to send a
new leg via Fed-Ex.  No dice, it would take weeks.  Under the
circumstances for now it looks like we are going to temporarily
move a piano in from another location.

These legs have extra large wheels somewhat like a Hamburg.
Never previously needing to know or care I was under the
impression that someone simply put the larger wheels on the
original legs.  Upon closer inspection, however, I see now that
these legs are in fact different then a normal Steinway leg.
This would of course make sense because the larger diameter wheel
would otherwise raise the piano too high.  Cutting down a normal
Steinway leg would look strange to say the least.  Although the
face plate portion seems normal the actual legs are shorter.
Clearly these legs are specifically designed for large wheels.
Thus now I'm attempting to determine the origin of these legs.
Does Steinway sell Hamburg legs in lacquer finish for New York
pianos?

Rob Goodale, RPT