Yes, it is going to need pretty much everything. I agree that the first thing that needs to be done is to clarify, not just what needs to be done, but what can be done; there may be restrictions on this. This piano was undoubtedly a donation to the museum. As such, it may have come with certain restrictions on just what can and cannot be done to the instrument. I was involved in one situation where it was discovered that the original donation documents required that any work done on the instrument be done in a historically authentic manner. I don't remember how this was actually worded but the museum took it to mean that the instrument could be restored but not changed in any significant way. If this is the case you're going to have to find someone who can work with that Brown action. You may also have to work with the original soundboard and bridge set. Point being, it's always good to check first. Then get some viable estimates so fund raising targets can be established. Once a final figure is known the committee can start selling keys (there are 88 of them-or 85, I don't remember) for however much each (everybody gets their name on a nice, professionally drawn [also a donation] keyboard that hangs in the lobby). They can start having fund raising benefit performances on the original instrument where the chair of the committee explains how much better the instrument will look and sound once the audience has donated enough to have the restoration project completed. If they can generate adequate community support they might well be surprised at how quickly this might all happen. We sold a rebuilt piano to a community-owned theatre (also in the process of being restored) that managed to raise the needed funds in about six months. And this in a very economically depressed area. It takes finding someone to head up the project who is really enthusiastic about it; that enthusiasm tends to rub off. ddf Delwin D Fandrich Piano Design & Fabrication 620 South Tower Avenue Centralia, Washington 98531 USA del at fandrichpiano.com ddfandrich at gmail.com Phone 360.736.7563 From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ursula Hammerling Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 8:32 AM To: joegarrett at earthlink.net; pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Any Ideas: Museum......rebuild funding Thanks, Joe, for your reply. I have the feeling, that this piano needs everything rebuilt and the idea to contact a rebuilder first seems the way to go. Thanks again. - Ursula --- On Tue, 1/4/11, Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net> wrote: From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Any Ideas: Museum......rebuild funding To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org> Date: Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 1:37 AM Ursula, I would suggest you first find a rebuilder and have that person give his Estimate. Then, they'd have a reasonable idea.. I've Remanufactured one of those, ..an 1867. The actions in that particular piano is a disaster! For the one I did, it got a complete new action...highly modified, by me and Rick Wheeler. Chickerings can be daunting. That particular one, even more so!! If I were to do the job I'd ask for two arms, a leg and your first born's inheritance.<G> Not really, but I'd estimate it very high, having already endoured the first one.<G> If they are looking to Rebuild it, that's one thing. If they are looking to Restore it, that is a whole new set of problems. With the Remanufacture, I did, the piano had a new sound board, pinblock, retoration of the arty case and refinished. The action and back action had to be replaced, completely. Today, the options are many more than anytime in the past, regarding the direction to be taken. And, the action parts avai labilities are better...er somewhat.<G> Regards, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20110104/e4db28d3/attachment.htm>
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