<HTML>In a message dated 6/9/03 6:02:10 PM Central Daylight = Time, fssturm@unm.edu writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT= : 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">That said, one useful approach = is making the argument that replacing parts and rebuilding is less expensive than springing for a new piano. I suppose <= BR> it might be possible to come up with some kind of quantitative formula along these lines. Do you have any notions in this regard? Cost of new pinblock, soundboard, action replacement versus brand new instrument, for <B= R> example, extended over time. That more or less assumes rebuilding is done <B= R> in-house, though. </BLOCKQUOTE> I'm wondering if we, as a committee, can come up with some general guideline= s that gives more definitive information to the bean counters that will give= them a better idea as to how long a piano will last if it is used x number = of hours per year, and how often it needs to be reconditioned, or rebuilt.&n= bsp; In other words, we have identified that pianos get light to heavy usage. We = have also identified a standard of maintenance. All of this, along with the = other workload formulas, gives us an idea of how many piano techs are needed= to maintain the instruments. Now, we need to figure out how we can use this information by showing that a= grand piano, set in above average climate condition, used heavily 8 hours a= day, that needs to be kept in near top performance, needs to have a new set= of hammers, shanks and flanges every (5 - 10) years, needs to be restrung e= very (15 - 20) years, a new pin block after 2 restringing, but needs to be r= eplaced after that. If we can show that if the above maintenance is not done= , the piano needs to be replaced in 30 years, instead of 50 or 60, perhaps t= he bean counters can see the financial advantage of having a qualified tech = on staff.  Is this worth investigating, or adding to the formula? Is this information u= seful and/or helpful in convincing department chairs and deans it is financi= ally prudent to invest in proper maintenance? Wim</HTML>