On Jan 31, 2006, at 6:37 AM, Conrad Hoffsommer wrote: > > The mantra that I recall hearing many years ago was that, here in > the US, central heating (somehow claimed to be more of a dessicant > than other ways of keeping warm) is more common. Well, it happens to be true! My experience goes back to a couple visits to Taiwan in the 70s; during 1978 I was the piano technician for the College of Chinese Culture outside Taipei. Winters were damp and chilly, and warm, dry rooms were far from commonplace. One would make a practice of visiting slightly warmer locations (cafeteria perhaps, or the main office for the music department). Heating was usually from propane or electric space heaters. Holding a cup of tea was a way to warm up your hands! No heat in the tiny practice rooms -- hey the kids were burning enough calories practicing for hours why would they complain about being cold!? We worn cotton padded jackets all the time not because they looked cool but because they kept us warm! So -- there was no point in seasoning the wood more aggressively than they did at the time. Yes, the 70s was a long time ago, but many of the grey market pianos are from that era, and here in centrally heated New England their soundboards and pinblocks fail over their first winter here. And much of China is still way more "undeveloped" than Taiwan was in the 70s. Patrick Draine aka Di Bode Happy New Year -- Year of the Dog!
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