Am I the last 'signer'??

[R Barber]

'signing' occurs on orchestral bassoon parts, especially major symphonic 
works which are tackled once every few decades: players sign their name 
and the year in the margin just after the last measure, also an honor to 
add one's own moniker to the ranks.  Markings made to bassoon parts 
(fingering hints, ossias) are quite valuable to us later readers.
I've never given as much credence to chalk marks left over tuning pins.

>    I once tuned an older upright in the upper penninsula of Michigan which 
> was purported to be owned by Henry Ford's attorney.  Starting at the left 
> end of the open faced pinblock was the date 1887.  From there on, each 
> technician dated and signed when tuning took place.  There must have been 25 
> names and it looked like a history book going through the turn of the last 
> century,  WWI, the depression, WWII, and so on until the present day.  I was 
> honored to add my name to this unique "piano history book."
>     Mike Kurta