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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>"It's certainly possible that these gaps &
cracks will be/are stable..."</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>More likely they are not of significance and are
stable - my guess. But I'd sure hate to have the thing come apart!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><EM>"Question to the
rebuilder/remanufacturers/dealers out there: wouldn't you address these issues
even if you're selling it as a used (at said concert & teaching
complex)built piano?"<BR></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I sure would fill them and have done just that.
Again, not sure it would really do much structurally (unless things actually
were coming apart in some significant fashion), but at least it would eliminate
the situation your customer faces.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> This morning I went out to tune a Steinway A,
recently purchased<BR>> several months ago at a major S&S dealership's
"major concert venue<BR>> special sales event". While originally manufactured
in 1908, It had<BR>> recently been fully rebuilt (new soundboard etc.).
Anyway, I found a<BR>> few hairline cracks in the lid as I was tuning it, and
then as I was<BR>> under the piano, starting to install a Dampp-Chaser
system, I noticed<BR>> a crack in one of the beams, and gaps/cracks in the
rim. As I was just<BR>> about to put some screws to secure the fill tube in
the immediate<BR>> vicinity of said cracks I decided to retreat from the
installation,<BR>> and inform the prevously blissful customer of my
findings.<BR>> I really don't know what level of implied or spelled out
warranty the<BR>> customer may have in this situation. It's certainly
possible that<BR>> these gaps & cracks will be/are stable, but I prefer
to be cautious<BR>> rather than blindly optimistic. The customer isn't a
panicky type;<BR>> she's on good terms with the sales person & I helped
her compose an<BR>> e-mail to the sales person informing the dealer of the
situation.<BR>> It seems to me an EZ but entirely stable repair would be for
the<BR>> dealer to take it back to the shop, flip the piano over, and fill
the<BR>> rim & beam cracks with low viscosity epoxy. I suppose a low
viscosity<BR>> glue can fix the cracks in the lid, too, followed by a couple
more<BR>> coats of ebony lacquer.<BR>> Question to the
rebuilder/remanufacturers/dealers out there: wouldn't<BR>> you address these
issues even if you're selling it as a used (at said<BR>> concert &
teaching complex) rebuilt piano?<BR>> Put another way, am I being too
"sensitive" in expecting some effort<BR>> in filling the gaps in the rim in a
structurally sound manner?<BR>> Patrick
Draine<BR>></FONT></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>