I think I would have done exactly what you did. I would certainly feel the need to state that many procedures she may wish to do could have nasty consequences if she does not go about it properly. I would also recommend that she retain professional services to do these things. Then after all that, I would sell her the bridle straps and whatever else she needs, wish her luck, and be happy that I met a customer's needs. Terry Farrell Piano Tuning & Service Tampa, Florida mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <Tvak@AOL.COM> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 11:19 PM Subject: No Subject > I got a call from a lady this week. She had a 1923 Wurlitzer player piano. > She informed me that the piano needed new bridle straps, and that many of the > hammer butt springs were not in place,but she wanted to do the work herself > and asked me if I would sell her some bridle straps, and if there was a tool > she could buy to get the butt springs back in place. Also, there were also > several keys that she could not depress or play, and needed someone to fix > them for her. So I made an appointment to come out and fix the "frozen" > keys. > I found it unusual that a client would know the correct terminology for > various parts of the action. When I came to look at the piano, I found she > had a copy of the REBLITZ book on piano repair. She was absolutely correct in > that the piano needed new bridle straps and that several hammer butt springs > were not in place. I repositioned the hammer butt springs for her. The > "frozen" keys were a result of the jacks being lodged under the hammer butts > (she had removed and then replaced the action with many broken bridle straps, > resulting in the jacks being lodged there) so I tripped them out into their > correct position, thereby "fixing" them. I then quoted her a price on > replacing the bridle straps, but she was very interested in doing the bridle > straps herself. So I decided to sell her a set of bridle straps, and showed > her how to go about removing the old bridle straps and install a new set of > cork-tipped bridle straps. I charged her for the work I had done and for the > set of bridle straps and went home. (She had also, by the way, replaced the > old felt front key rail punchings with new felt purchased at a fabric store, > cutting them into circles and punching holes in them herself! Quite the > self-starter.) > > My question regards the ethics of this situation. Having only been in the > newsgroup about 3 months now, I have come to respect the opinions of so many > of you---what is your collective take on this situation? Should I have > refused to supply her with the bridle straps? She could easily break a > wippen flange, or a jack. Then again, she'd call me to come fix it for her. > I don't know...I'm just curious as to what any of you might have done in this > situation. > > Tom S. > Chicago Area >
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