Betsy Ross pianos

[Susan Kline]

Actually, Phil, Betsy Ross spinets were made by Lester.

As spinets go, they aren't awful, but they got a bad reputation from the 
breaking plastic elbows. The snap-on elbows bring them back to life, at the 
cost of a certain amount in inconvenience. Try not to break the wippen 
flanges (which may be plastic) when shattering the old plastic off the 
center pins. If you are dealing with sluggish plastic flanges, be aware 
that lubrication and zapping as well are counterproductive. The only thing 
to do is to replace them with wood flanges, unless the plastic is working 
just fine. Occasionally the plastic flanges (and even the elbows!) show a 
totally unexpected stubborn attachment to life, and are still working fine. 
One then heaves a sigh of relief, and leaves them be.

Some Betsy Ross spinets predate the plastic disaster, and they make pretty 
decent spinets, if they haven't died of mice, wear, humidity, 
overlubrication, tuner error, etc.

Susan Kline