Front lid extended during performance

[Ron Nossaman]

>     If the hinges can't take this stress, the piano is trash. It's
>     a non event, or an indication of a need to upgrade.
>      
>         I don't agree with this at all.  I've seen Steinways and Mason &
>     Hamlins in schools, where the hinge screws have pulled loose because
>     of students and teachers ignorant of the proper way to open a grand
>     lid.  And those aren't trash pianos. 
>         --David Nereson, RPT


I've seen it too, lots of times, and the hinges didn't pull 
loose in all these pianos (or in any, for that matter) because 
someone had the lid on the prop with the front half down. They 
pulled loose because they were manhandled for years in opening 
and closing the lid and moving the piano around. Like bench 
legs, once the lid screws start getting loose, they go 
quickly. Also like benches, almost no one will bother 
attempting to tighten hinge screws once they become loose.
Ron N