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[Ron Nossaman]

Today, I did a semi-emergency service call and tuning. At last year's 
Christmas party, a vase of flowers was overturned into the piano and at 
least a quart of water poured inside. They figured that since it was 
getting close to Christmas again, they should see if any damage was done 
and get it tuned for this year.

The piano is a small Wurlitzer grand with a laminated soundboard. While the 
surface veneer was checked up noticeably, it wasn't obviously hurt too 
badly by the dousing. I got the impression that the damage would have been 
more severe to a solid board, but perhaps not. Fortunately, the water ran 
off of the board before it soaked clear through. Unfortunately, it ran into 
the action.

Some water stains on the hammers, sustenuto tabs that didn't move so good, 
and some horrendous squeaks in the damper tray hinges seemed to be the 
worst of it. They got lucky. An hour and a half of lubricating damper 
guides, blocks, and sustenuto tabs, tightening screws, re-pinning tray 
hinges, and re-mounting lyre braces took care of enough of the problems to 
meet the objective.

It was amazing how easy it was to get the tray out, considering how hard it 
was to get the cheek blocks and key slip off. The tray flange screws were 
easily accessible through slots milled through the lever arms between the 
flanges and the tray. Came right out, slick as you please. After re-pinning 
the four outsized flanges, I discovered that the screw head wouldn't pass 
through the milled slot to screw the tray back on. With hard headed 
tenacity and a magnetic screw retriever, I managed to squeeze in underneath 
the tray holding a screw between two fingers, snag it with the magnet stuck 
through the milled slot, guide the screw into the hole with one finger and 
the magnet, and holding the screw in the hole with the finger, remove the 
magnet and insert the screwdriver. I'm glad it worked, because that's the 
only idea I had that even came close to having a chance. The cramps should 
subside any time now.
Ron N