Hi Les, I didn't even know that grands as small as this were made that early. James Grebe R.P.T. from St. Louis pianoman@inlink.com "Only my best is good enough" ---------- > From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net> > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: Re: Delaminated pin block > Date: Friday, November 14, 1997 8:00 PM > > > > On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Don wrote: > > The Piano...well that is being generous > > A 4' 9" grand made by Mason & Risch some time before 1895, ivory keys in > > mint condition > > BUT pin block three layer...bottom layer mostly separated...like an 1/8 of > > an inch. > > Question: > > Any point in removing the action, jacking up the delaminated layer, and > > using CA glue copiously? > > I can not honestly suggest the instrument is *worthy* of a replacement pin > > block. There is little or no sentimental value folks. > > Opinions please...and if you want to reply privately I will understand. *grin* > > The last time I saw a problem like that it was caused by a tech attempt- > ing to correct a "loose pin" problem by hammering every pin in the piano > as deeply into the pinblock as possible without supporting the block from > underneath first. The end result was that not only did he break the bottom > lamination of the block free, but he also impaled it on the drop screw > heads as well. Let's just say that removal of the action would have been > "problematic" at best. Even if the action HAD been removable, however, I > still would have passed on attempting any kind of repair because there > were other obvious problems with both bridges, the soundboard and the bass > strings which would have also had to be attended to before the piano could > be tuned. And I never even bothered to check out the action. The value of > even only the minimal repairs necessary to make the piano tunable and > playable would have far exceeded the value of the "instrument". > > I know that M&R is a highly regarded name in pianos up in Canada, and I > would certainly never try to impinge its name to anyone holding a hoc- > key stick :), but seriously how much is a 100+ year old 4'9" M&R grand > worth? Probably about as much s a set of used ivory keytops in "mint > condition". Although we all have a tendency to come to think of ourselves > as "Super-Tech", capable of handling any problem which comes our way, > there are times when the best thing to do is simply to be upfront with > the customer, tell them that the piano has out-lived its useful life, > that the cost of the repairs would exceed the value of the instrument, > and then move on to more worthwhile and rewarding work. I believe that > this is probably one of those times. If they want to, they can after- > wards call in a young, inexperienced tech who hasn't yet learned that > there are times when the best thing to do is to simply walk away, and > this piano can become a learning experience for HIM which he will never > forget. In the meantime YOU can find yourself one of those fine, old > Heintzmann uprights, whose design was based upon things Theodore learned > when he was working at the Steinway factories here in the states in > the early days. I think you'll find it to be much more rewarding work. > Old Theo had a keen eye! > > Les Smith > lessmith@buffnet.net >
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