<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear List-</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm dealing with a difficult situation = with a customer who has purchased an 1892 Steinway vertical on = Ebay.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The piano has been restrung in the = plain wire and repinned in the bass, "turning the bass strings."  The repinning = was done with 4/0 pins with apparently no preparation of the holes in the = pinblock.  Pin torque varies wildly, with many high treble pins over 225 inch = pounds.  I cannot imagine now how to restring properly without replacing the pinblock.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Raising pitch 80 cents and tuning was = miserably difficult, perhaps tuning will be manageable when the strings have stabilized....? </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Refinishing is a thin black lacquer = (were 1890's verticals done in ebony?), and the brass lock plate and pedals have been = carefully polished.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hammers have been re-shaped past = regulation, key pins turned in the front bushings, and key covers glued to fit the = notch, with the tips overhanging, and no shaping.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The customer had hopes of buying a = piano that would become a family heirloom.  The seller told her the old bass strings = were so good that they didn't need replacement, and that she could eventually = complete the restoration with new hammers and dampers.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I would be interested in your opinions = of what is the going value of an 1892 Steinway vertical, rebuilt to very good = playing and tuning condition, and what the purchase price of the instrument = as it is should be.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Also I would appreciate your comments = on the pinblock.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you very much.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ed Sutton</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>