hidden damage question

[Robert Goodale]

> List,
>     A church, for which I tune, had some night visitors last Friday. Instead
> of just stealing the sound system, which they did, they decided to vent
> something deep inside. They ripped all the keys out of the organ and dumped
> it over. Then they went to the piano, a middle aged 5' Knabe grand, and
> reached inside and twisted the dampers into a mess. Feeling that they were
> not doing justice to the piano, they dumped it over upside down. Aside from
> the case damage and the dampers, it didn't appear too bad. The tuning was
> about normal for the six months that have passed since the last one, the
> action seemed to be functioning normally, the frame wasn't cracked, and I
> couldn't find anything loose are damaged with the soundboard.
>     I was wondering if the impact of landing upside down might cause some
> damage that would show up later on. Would the strings be weakened at the
> pressure points?  Would the pinblock be loosened from the frame? Might the
> soundboard develop some type of stress damage?  Just wondering. Has anybody
> had experience with this kind of thing?
>     Thanks,
>         John Stroup

Sounds like the preacher of this church ought to have some pretty good material
for a fire and brimstone sermon.  Maybe a chorus or two of "Amazing Disgrace"
too.  Just curious- have they been apprehended yet?  Keep us updated if they do.



Rob Goodale, RPT