Sow's ear

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Steve Pearson wrote:

> . . . Not all of them are worth all that expense, tho', and old adage holds for them as well as for pianos. "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear".  That is where our judgement comes in: the ever present notion of value as it relates to the money and time lavished on it, weighed against sentimental attachment, when present, or replacment with a 'new' one. . . .

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Sure you can.  In fact, I teach the basics of the process in my class, "How to Make a Silk Purse Out of a Sow's Ear."

In our shop right now we have a 173 cm (5' 8") grand non-descript manufacture.  It is a U.S. built instrument from a company better known for its upright pianos.  (They weren't much to write home about either.)  The case detailing is not up to the best standards of either yesterday or today, but in performance it will not be embarrassed by any currently manufactured piano -- of any price -- within the 175 to 180 cm (5' 9" to 5' 11") range.

As to whether or not this is economically viable is a whole other issue.  This piano is now for sale.  Based on its action and tone performance (and, I hope, on our reputation) we'll probably get somewhere around $17K for it.  Unfortunately, this is about what we have in it for just the remanufacturing work that has been done.  Fortunately, this piano came to us very inexpensively so we had little in it to start with.  We'll break even, but there will be no profit.

To me, of course, the frustrating part of this little exercise is that this is even possible.  In what other industry can a small workshop take a product that was originally built in the 1920's, remanufacture it and end up with something that will generally outperform the latest offerings from the leading manufactures of that product?  Unlike the violin, the piano is still a work in progress.  At least it should be.

Oh well . . .  I've been over all this before.  See my Journal article "If It Ain't Broke -- Break It."

Regards,

Del