Plastic elbows (conclusion)

[Jlovekeys@AOL.COM]

Dear List,
    I had the appointment Friday and replaced 5 elbows with the newer clear 
elbows. The piano was a Gulbransen spinet and thankfully plastic was only 
used on the elbows and nowhere else in the action. I demonstrated to the 
client the fragility of the elbows by crushing one with a pair of pliers.  As 
it turned out, an excitable relative had broken the elbows by playing very 
forcefully.  I tuned the piano gently and having forewarned the client about 
further breakage, was on my way.   She seemed happy that a few could be 
replaced at a time to minimize the expense of replacing all at once. I did 
use the vice grip technique to ensure minimum adjustment of lost motion.  
Maybe I'll have to replace a few more next year or so, but that's part of the 
business, I suppose.  All in all, the experience was much less painful than I 
feared. Thanks to all that contributed to this thread.
Jim Love
PTG Associate
Midland, Tx.