rare and unsual was Tuesday evening's tuning

[Nancy McMillan]

Thanks Willem, a healthy and prosperous new year to you.

----- Original Message -----
From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, December 27, 1999 6:14 PM
Subject: rare and unsual was Tuesday evening's tuning


> In a message dated 12/24/99 2:52:23 AM !!!First Boot!!!, nlm@csu.cted.net
> writes:
>
> << Hi Willem,
>
>  What would be your take on rare and unusual circumstances for restoring
>  pianos?
>
>  Have a great holiday.
>
>  Doug Mahard, Associate >>
>
>
> Doug:
>
> Sorry it took so long to get back to you. We just came back from 4 days in
> Colorado.
>
> Rare and unusual pianos are those of extraordinary or exceptional quality,
or
> unusual case design. There were some companies that stayed in business
only
> for a short period of time, but still produced a very good piano, as
> described above. So this list is not limited to Steinway, Baldwin
Chickering,
> etc. However, even those brands were subjected to unusual conditions, that
> would make them irreparable at an acceptable cost.
>
> But because we make money working on pianos, and there are customers who
> don't seem to understand the problems that pianos can develop, there will
be
> occasions when we must rebuild a piano, even against our better judgment.
>
> Case in point. About 15 years ago a man called and told me he had a
"concert
> grand" on his pickup truck and wanted to deliver it to my shop so I could
> rebuild it. When he got there, it was an old upright. It did have "concert
> grand" on the fall board. He bought it at an antique store in the Ozark
> Mountains, and he was bound and determined to have me rebuild it. After
> analyzing the piano, I told him what I could do, and how much it was going
to
> be. But also warned him what I could not do, and what the end result was
> going to be. I basically tried to talk him out of having me do the work.
He
> still had me do it, and paid me for my work. The only reason he wanted
this
> piano was because it had his last name on the fall board. (It wasn't a
name I
> recognized, but it was mentioned in the Atlas.)
>
> So what is my take on rare and unusual?  Is, whatever the customer is
willing
> to pay, a correct answer?   You be the judge.
>
> Willem Blees
>
>