piano refinishing

[David M. Porritt]

Wim:

Maybe the paucity of information in the Journal on refinishing pianos
is why you didn't do well when you tried it.

dave

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 6/5/02 at 1:59 PM Kdivad@AOL.COM wrote:

>In a message dated Wed, 5 Jun 2002  9:53:22 AM Eastern Daylight
Time,
>Wimblees@AOL.COM writes:
>
>>In a message dated 6/4/02 9:47:13 PM Central Daylight Time,
>Bigeartb@AOL.COM 
>>writes:
>>
>>
>>> No, refinishing does not belong on the same page as tuning or
technical 
>>> work. But refinishing or just  knowing how to remove dents,
nicks, or 
>>> 
>>
>>Since I was the first to state that I don't think articles on
refinishing 
>>should be in the Journal, let me also point out that I clearly
stated
>that I 
>>realize there are piano technicians who also refinish pianos. I
agree
>that 
>>knowing how to refinish pianos is part of the total package of
rebuilding
>a 
>>piano,a nd thus of the piano trade. But, as Jon Page pointed out,
so is
>being 
>>an accountant, and secretary, etc. Again, I agree. BUT, although
there
>have 
>>been some articles written on how to sell a business, how to more
>efficiently 
>>keep track of your income, etc., what we don't have are articles on

>>accounting priciples, or secretarial skills. We need our car, but
we
>don't 
>>have articles on how to replace spark plugs, or realign the front
end. We
>use 
>>the telephone and computers, but we don't have articles on
telephone
>repair, 
>>or computer programming. 
>>
>>That is the point I was trying to make. We are piano technicians.
The
>other 
>>aspects of our business are important, but there are professional
>magazines 
>>devoted specifically to those aspect of our work. If someone is
>interested in 
>>knowing more about those topics, they should subscribe to the
magazines 
>>devoted to them.
>>
>>Wim 
>
>
>Refinishing is an extremely important part of a total rebuild,
hardly
>comparable to putting spark plugs in your car.  I am glad you
pointed out
>the fact that there are articles in the Journal on how to organize
and run
>your business, why should they be allowed? There are literally
thousands
>of books on those subjects why waste valuable space in the Journal.
Don't
>take me wrong, I want those articles, I am just using your own
argument.
>One more point, I have never found any quality sources on
refinishing
>pianos, the techniques are different than furniture refinishing.
There is
>not a wealth of info on piano refinishing, just the opposite. 
>Wouldn't a good technician doing business restoring fine pianos to
>excellence want to at least understand the refinishing process.
Preparing
>him to intelligently understand the difference between a superb
piano
>refinisher and a jacklegs work? 
>David Koelzer
>Vintage Pianos
>DFW


_____________________________
David M. Porritt
dporritt@mail.smu.edu
Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275
_____________________________