SCARY plastic flanges

[Farrell]

You are likely right Susan. I've just had a few very unpleasant recent
run-ins with 90 year-old pianos that I might be a little gun-shy. I was
wrong to use the term disaster with this particular piano, because it would
have likely worked OK with the new parts. I just had in mind the 90 year old
job that when you fix one part, three others fall apart. I guess I'm getting
like some other techs in that I'm getting to the point where I will refuse
to do certain jobs on pianos when I know there is a high probability of
ultimate failure. But it was probably not the case with this piano - but
still it would not have been worth it to spend more than $500 on it (like
$800 to $1000).

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan Kline" <sckline@home.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: SCARY plastic flanges


> At 08:14 PM 08/12/2001 -0400, you wrote:
> >. I absolutely did NOT want to do the work. The
> >piano had DISASTER written all over it.
>
>
> Actually, I've retrieved several of these S-2 pianos
> by replacing every bit of plastic in them. They are sort
> of a pain, but not a disaster by any means. Put the wood
> parts in and they will work (assuming your center
> pinning and spacing skills are adequate.) I don't think
> that they will blindside you, like some truly awful
> instruments. The parts are available, and they'll fit.
>
> I also don't agree with the general impression that I've
> been getting from the list recently, that the Betsy Ross
> is the absolute nadir of spinets. If they hadn't had the
> plastic elbows, I feel that we'd consider them one of the
> better spinets out there. The elbows just aren't that big
> a problem -- easily replaced in a few hours. When they have
> the plastic flanges, that's certainly an added layer of
> aggravation, but still, the rest of the piano is okay.
> The scaling isn't too bad, the geometry works, the case is
> adequate, etc.
>
> (Conrad, did you remember to send me that brochure about
> your newest line of flamesuits?)
>
> Susan
>
>