[pianotech] Ethics of prop sticks.

[erwinspiano at aol.com]

Yup, yup. I may be fragrantly insipid...I love that) but.... 
  Another alternative is to do what Dave & Willis Synder suggested. 
 On many occasions I have taken the original stick and routered out a slot as per more modern designs and added a short stick to it. This preserves  the original is intact and become more functional. 
  On My Own B I simply bought a new stick. One thing to keep in mind is that many of the one peice sticks were longer than the modern version and if you like that simply modify the original. It doesn't require all that many brain cells to accomplish this and it a neat and tidy solution.
  Dale






-----Original Message-----
From: William Monroe <bill at a440piano.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Sat, Jan 9, 2010 6:40 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Ethics of prop sticks.


It's a legitimate question, sure, most all questions are.

However, it is most certainly NOT an antique.  Good gravy.  This has been addressed so many times over the years you'd think at least piano technicians would have it by now.  Yes there are exceptions, (extremely rarely) but old pianos are just old.  Period.  If it's 1894 and original it needs to be rebuilt and is worth only a carcass price.  If it's not original, it's well, not original.  How is that an antique?  For that matter, how is an "all original" non-functional 1894 any brand piano an antique?  If it doesn't work it doesn't work.  Pianos are not antiques.

Here's a thought.  What's one thing antiques have in common?  An antique "X" is worth more than a new "X", provided one can be found.  Market value for an 1894 B is most certainly less than a new one.  No antiques here.

Old instruments are rife with sentimental "touchie-feelies" and I love a good 100yr. old piano as much as Mrs. Jones loves her dear departed Great-Aunt's original condition Steinwin & Hamabe.  But, that yearning for the past rarely, rarely translates into market or antique value.

William R. Monroe




On Sat, Jan 9, 2010 at 8:24 AM, Duaine Hechler <dahechler at att.net> wrote:

I think it is a legitimate question sine it is - an antique.

Duaine







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