<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 3/9/2006 6:26:04 PM Central Standard Time, kswafford@earthlink.net writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>I have been contacted with regard to the following matter:<BR><BR>http://tinyurl.com/n6rzu<BR><BR>The Steinway in question is a Model O.<BR><BR>I was asked for a statement concerning the viability of rebuilding.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Are you being asked as an independent piano technician, or as the president of the PTG?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I agree with Chris that as President, this is not something with which the PTG should get involved. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If, on the other hand, you are being asked as an independent technician, you should use your own judgment. You will find technicians on this list that will favor using replacement parts other than Steinway, and using "genuine Steinway replacement parts." And you will find some who think having a private rebuilder do the job will be better than having Steinway do it. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>When it comes to working for a school system, it is best to get a feel for which direction they want to go, and follow their lead. School Board members, in general, do not like to be second guessed. If they think having Steinway do the work will be the better thing to do, they will be much more receptive to having the piano restored. If they need to be "convinced," that a local technician can do the work, even it is for less money, and even if the local technician can do the work better, they will be on the lookout for the slightest mistake.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just my thoughts on the matter. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Wim </DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>