SV: Recommend Rebuilder?

[Ron Overs]

>>Changing the soundboard and pinblock is a factory job when it comes 
>>to Steinway. In this case it is of great importance to use original 
>>parts to save the quality.

Don't agree at all. Its a job for anyone who has the capability of 
doing it properly, whether modified or original in design.

>>Mr Fenner in Germany once changed the soundboard and pinblock in a 
>>B grand to make it "better" and S&S put him to court for calling it 
>>a Steinway after the repair, so he had to change the name on the 
>>fallboard and hide the name on the frame.
>>Now these B grands are sold under the name Fenner.
>>
>>baoli liu <baoli_liu at yahoo.com> skrev:


He could have called them Fenner - Steinway which would be more to 
the truth than calling them straight Fenner.

It seems as if Klaus might have done better, had he sought legal 
opinion. Rebuilding an instrument with modifications is illegal if 
all the original trademark and identity items remains the same. It is 
called "Passing off", and rightly so.

I've been on the receiving end of letters from a certain manufacturer 
accusing me of Passing Off. But I replied inviting them to inspect 
the said piano, and to confirm that I had placed a transfer on the 
plate stating that the piano was modified. The claims of Passing Off 
evaporated.

Here's a link to an image of the acknowledgment we placed on the circ 
1962 Steinway D we rebuilt for the Australian Broadcasting 
Corporation in 1992.

http://members.optusnet.com.au/ronovers/abc.steinwayd.jpg

For those who may be interested in the outside finish, it is the two 
pack automotive lacquer called 2K (jet black with 50% flatting base). 
We do our refinishing in house.

Provided you explain what you propose to do to an instrument with the 
owner, and you have their permission, and provided that you place a 
transfer or sticker on the piano, placed in a conspicuous place on 
the instrument (doesn't have to be on the fallboard - on the plate 
will do), stating the changes you have made to the instrument, you 
will have nothing to fear.

No one can sue you for telling the truth about an instrument which 
you have rebuilt. Furthermore, why on earth would you want to rebuild 
an instrument with modifications without including information about 
the work you performed? The results should be known to be your own 
work, for better or for worse.

I wouldn't mind if someone modified one of my pianos, and long as 
they acknowledge what they did for all to see.

We should all be prepared to stand by what we have done.

Ron O.
-- 
OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY
    Grand Piano Manufacturers
_______________________

Web http://overspianos.com.au
mailto:ron at overspianos.com.au
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