A Couple Of Service Firsts

[Farrell]

I "tuned" an Autopiano old upright today. 200 cents flat. Missing a half-dozen hammers. Totally worn out junker. Piano's name is Quenton. Couple interesting things though.

The first was a number of loosed tuning pins in the middle of the scale. A few had been tapped in, a couple had a bigger pin installed, and two had a finishing nail pounded in between the tuning pin and the inside edge of the tuning pin hole - it kinda worked. First time I had seen that.

One of the keys was broken. I told her I'd have to take it back to my shop and epoxy it, etc. She didn't want to do that. So I told her I would try CA, but no guarantees. Removed the key which revealed a previous "repair". It had broke at the center rail pin area. There were metal plates on both sides, each plate having four screws and two copper rivets. There was a third metal plate on the key bottom which was held on by two screws. Additionally a 1/4" threaded steel nut was around the center rail pin, under the key - apparently serving as a center rail pin punching. The CA glue seemed to work. I hit the key, the hammer hit the string, and the client said "see, it works fine - it makes noise now". Oddest key repair I had run across.

The lady was kissing and hugging the piano as I tuned it. I mean with her lips. It seems like there should be something to say about that, but I find myself speechless.

The piano felt better when I put the front upper and lower covers on as it had reportedly "felt naked"

Interesting morning. She made me a couple great ham sandwiches also.

Terry Farrell