Another old player condemned

[Jeffrey Schlaybach]

Out of curiousity, I'd like some opinions related to the advice I gave
yesterday to a family with an old player (gutted) made by York Piano Company
(serial # 66413).


I was asked to come a tune the piano and told there were a few keys not
working. There are 2 children who play it and one has started at a local
piano institute.

I moved the beast away from the wall and the entire piano fell slightly
backward. There was a block of wood on the back right corner to support the
missing wheel.

Upon further inspection: the pinblock was cracked at numerous places, tuning
pins were loose as a result and had been doped by someone in the past.
Hammer was broken off on one key, strings were broken, pitch was high at
some sections and low at others (this seemed odd to me that some would be
sharp), treble and bass bridges were very cracked up, cabinet finsihed was
poor and veneer was pulled off at places. Jack springs were missing, I
noticed a broken Whippen, and if I had continue to look I'm sure I'd have
found other things.

After seeing the cracked bridges I asked the owner about its senitmental
value - they indicated there was not much. I then sugeested that in my
opinion the piano was not worth the money required to repair and make it
playable, espcially with one child taking lessons at an institute. She
seemed relieved to hear this and told me her husband was shocked that she
wanted to spend anything to even tune it. She also said they had a keyboad
that the kids would use till they found something else.

I did not feel I should charge her anything but when pressed suggested $20.
She indicated taht she thought this was not enough for my time and gas but I
made the bill out for $20 anyway. When I got home I noticed she wrote the
check out for $30!

I plan to send her the a copy of , :How to buy a good used piano" as a
"thankyou".

I also mentioned that I'd be happy to check out any piano she might be
inclined to buy in the future and hoped to be able to conitnue to provide
tuning and repair business.

Did I condemn a piano that might have been given a few more years?!

Jeff Schlaybach - Robesonia, PA