[CAUT] Institutional bench purchasing?

[Elwood Doss]

Hi Marcel,

They are called "School Benches" in the Schaff catalogue, p. 18 (#7022).  The description includes, "Similar to a grand type piano bench; but to further strengthen the legs for school use, a strong stretcher base is added."  David Ilvedson explained them this way: "struts between legs and down the middle between leg struts...very strong!...School model benches."

The problem I've found with the cheaper benches is that when pianists pull them back and forward to sit up to or move away from the piano, the carpet tends to drag the legs out of shape so that when weight is placed on them the brackets slowly bend--interestingly enough where the leg bolt is bolted into the bracket.  Once the bracket is bent, it's just a matter of time before the legs begin to fold under.  The "stretchers" or "struts" keep that from happening by stabilizing the lower part of the legs.  We put ours on about 4" from the end of the leg.  Simple idea, but sure does work well!  Since the benches are black, like the upright piano finish, we just paint the stretchers black also.

I can send some photos of some of our retrofitted benches if anyone is interested.

Joy!
Elwood

Elwood Doss, Jr., RPT
Piano Technician/Technical Director
Department of Music
145 Fine Arts Building
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN  38238
731/881-1852
FAX: 731/881-7415
HOME: 731/587-5700
-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Marcel Carey
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 3:03 PM
To: 'College and University Technicians'
Subject: RE : [CAUT] Institutional bench purchasing?

Elwood,

Could you explain what you mean by benches with stretchers ?  Would this
look like a bench on a pair of skis?

Marcel Carey
Sherbrooke, QC

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] De la 
> part de Elwood Doss
> Envoyé : 4 novembre 2005 14:56
> À : College and University Technicians
> Objet : RE: [CAUT] Institutional bench purchasing?
> 
> 
> I would suggest getting benches with stretchers on them.  I 
> think they are around $200 in the catalogues.  We purchased 
> some new practice room Baldwin Studios about 6 years ago  and 
> after about 3 years damaged benches began showing up in my 
> shop.  I ordered 3 benches with stretchers and decided I 
> could retrofit the broken benches with stretchers and salvage 
> them It worked beautifully!  I used a very dense grained 
> African wood called "Jatoba" for the stretchers--$14 for a 
> 1"X6"X8' piece, but works out to about $3 per bench since we 
> split the 1"X6" into 1"X3".  They worked so well we have 
> retrofit every bench in the building.  After 3 years we have 
> never had a damaged bench, and we have carpet in the practice 
> rooms.  If you would like more information, just email me.  I 
> used a special type of screw and glued them in.  The Chair 
> was happy to spend around $5.00 for materials to retrofit 
> rather than spending $200 for a new bench.
> 
> This may not work any where else, but sure works here!
> 
> Joy!
> Elwood
> 
> Elwood Doss, Jr. M.M.E.; RPT
> Piano Technician/Technical Director
> Department of Music
> 145 Fine Arts Building
> The University of Tennessee at Martin
> Martin, TN  38238
> 731/881-1852
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On 
> Behalf Of wimblees@aol.com
> Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 11:55 AM
> To: caut@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Institutional bench purchasing?
> 
> In a college setting, I don't think there are such a thing as 
> indistructable benches. No matter who's products you buy, they will 
> eventually break down.
> 
> I've always bought GRK benches, but I'm sure the ones from Jansen & 
> Sons and Schaff will be just as good. In the 2005 Directory 
> there are 8 
> suppliers listed. Give each of them a call and ask for the best deal.
> 
> 
> Wim
> Willem Blees, RPT
> Piano Tuner/Technician
> School of Music
> University of Alabama
> Tuscaloosa, AL USA
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Susan Kline <skline@peak.org>
> To: College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>
> Sent: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 09:47:37 -0800
> Subject: [CAUT] Institutional bench purchasing?
> 
> Pardon me if this is old ground. 
>  
> Linfield College, where I tune, needs some new benches -- 
> maybe 10-20. I'm sure if we search the web all kinds of 
> bench-sellers will appear - but which of them offer products 
> which will still be around in five years, even with 
> maintenance? 
>  
> If anybody has a good source for sturdy, reasonably 
> economical plain upright benches, please let me know. 
>  
> Thanks 
>  
> Susan Kline 
> Linfield College 
> McMinnville, OR 
>  
> P.S. Reading the posts about adding stringers -- good idea. 
> Not just sure where I'd get the time for the first one, but 
> once I'd worked out the details it probably wouldn't take 
> all that long for the rest. 
>  
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