[pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B

[paul bruesch]

Yes Thumpe it was "your" BPC procedure.

I did it outdoors with a breeze at my back over newspapers on a concrete
patio. The owner is the primary entertainment for the supper club, but the
first comment I got was from his sister, who usually plays for the Catholic
church in town. She raved about how much better it was. She could actually
play it!

Given that there's an apparent cash-flow issue, I had to go with quick 'n
dirty. Soaking parts in a tub of naphtha would have entailed far more work
than he'd ever be willing to pay for. The BPC was the quick 'n dirty of the
quick 'n dirty. I told him from the outset that BPC is temporary, that it
needs major work. He replied that, much as he'd love to do that, there's
just no way he could.

Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN


On Fri, Jan 4, 2013 at 2:08 AM, Euphonious Thumpe <lclgcnp at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi, Paul. I'm going to guess that's "my" brake part cleaner vs. verdigris
> technique you used "with great success", and am glad to hear it. But feel
> obligated to remind everyone that brake part cleaner is largely made up of
> xylene --- I suspect the most dangerous solvent in terms of causing
> (hopefully temporary) neurological harm: such as disorientation accompanied
> by a SEVERE lack of emotions (enough to make others around you wonder
> "what's up"!) numbness of fingers (if you get any on them) that can last
> for weeks, and etc.. So, if used, should be used with the GREATEST of
> caution (outdoors, with a fan blowing over the work, while wearing goggles,
> a charcoal filter mask and a couple of layers of disposable gloves that
> will need to be changed often---as it can go right through them without
> melting the gloves themselves --- at least the vinyl ones.......)
> And since posting that technique, I've spoken with a chap who claims to
> have a better, safer one: putting all the action parts in a tub of naptha
> and letting them soak, then blasting all the centers with a compressed-air
> blow gun pointed straight into them, to blast the verdigris out. (And then,
> I'm guessing, another dunk and swish- but into a vat of clean naptha, to
> rinse the contamination away. And then a few days to air out before
> lubricating the centers, knuckles and and jack tips.)
> While similar cautions should be used with the naptha, it is not as toxic.
>
> Thumpe
>
>  ------------------------------
> * From: * Dale Erwin <erwinspiano at aol.com>;
> * To: * <pianotech at ptg.org>;
> * Subject: * Re: [pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B
> * Sent: * Fri, Jan 4, 2013 6:28:42 AM
>
>   Hi Paul
>  The value is really determined by what the cost of a total restoration
> would be. A 1929 B rode hard and put away wet, as you put it, is most
> likely going to need
> everything including a new key set. So if the restoration cost are for
> example 35K to 40 K the question remains.....what can it be sold for after
> work?
> Many shops across the country are finding it difficult to recoup 50K for
> even the most fastidiously restored Bs. In my opinion that's a tragedy but
> it is what it is.
>  In my opinion the piano presently is perhaps worth 7 to 12 K depending on
> condition.
>  Bob Friedmans is a stand up guy with his finger on the pulse nationwide.
> Call him
>
> *Dale Erwin R.P.T.
> Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
> ** Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S. pianos
> www.Erwinspiano.com
> Phone: 209-577-8397
> *
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: paul bruesch <paul at bruesch.net>
> To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Thu, Jan 3, 2013 7:12 pm
> Subject: [pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B
>
>  I have a customer with a 1929 S&S (NY) B. It's been in a supper club for
> many years, been rode hard and put up wet. Customer says the action is from
> another B which was in even worse condition. This action is verdigris'd,
> although I did very successfully use the brake parts cleaner trick on it.
>
>  Customer has a second S&S B from 1968. It has also been in the supper
> club for years, but it is in overall much better condition.
>
>  He called me recently to ask if I thought he could sell one or the other
> of them. I suspect he's having cash flow issues, but I didn't ask. I
> suggested he should sell the 1929 model - because then he'd still have a
> piano in the place! He wanted me to suggest an asking price. I declined,
> but mentioned something I'd read here a few years back about a rebuilding
> carcass going for ca $1000 per foot. I don't recall if that was before or
> during the plantetary economic slump... does that rule of thumb still
> apply? Or is it regional, like a better-playing instrument?
>
>  Thanks!
> Paul Bruesch
> Stillwater, MN
>
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