<DIV id=yiv918388181> <DIV>Thank you to those who have responded so far, in particular:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Isaac: Thank you for your offer -- I added your email to my address book. I will be contacting you shortly. In the meantime, please feel free to share your stories immediately -- email me anytime. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hi,Bobbie! I hope,you will be able to gather information you seek about your topic.. You can contact me privately and I can tell you stories how things were sneaked out of ex-Soviet Union and many of them inside pianos Some of them were political manuscripts,but mostly jewelry,golden coins…Have a Great Weekend! Isaac Sadigursky, Los Angeles Chapter PTG</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>Luc: Thanks for sharing -- I've got all kinds of ideas in my head right now.</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>It can perhaps give you inspiration. Traduction by google.</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#003399 size=2><A href="http://www.memorial-caen.fr/fr/collections/accueil.php?acq=11" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://www.memorial-caen.fr/fr/collections/accueil.php?acq=11</A></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#003399></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT color=#0000ff>History In order to ensure comfort and relaxation its soldiers, the American army places order to the Steinway firm of 4.000 upright pianos which are then sent on the European and Asian faces. Unloaded at the same time as the GI' S, they are used in the quarterings installed with
the back of the face and follow the progression of the troops. After having been interdict during 4 years by the Vichy government and the occupant, the American jazz, that the French had discovered during in the years 1930, returns in force. In the ballrooms, the cellars of Montmartre and the bars of Saint-Germain, the jazz bands make to swinguer crowd by taking again the airs of Minor Swing, Django Reinhardt, Chattanooga Choo Choo and of Glenn Miller. Many of these pianos are then destroyed during the post-war period. Manufactured in New York in 1942, this Victory Piano was used at the air base of Evreux, then American. With their departure in 1948, it is recovered and runs then peaceful days in the warehouse of a store of music where a professional musician discovers it, repurchases it and undertakes its restoration. Acquired in 2002 by the Memorial of Caen, given to nine and repaints in its color of origin thanks to, Basse-Normandie area and the town State grants of
Caen.</FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr>And thank you to Ken for suggesting I post. I'm looking forward to hearing more stories and suggestions. As I'm only in the beginning stages of outlining the story, I'm open to everything. </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr>Quid pro quo -- I'm not a piano technician -- I don't even play (though I've always wanted to) -- all are welcome to email me for help in interpreting dreams -- or just check out my website -- <A href="http://www.bobbieann.net/" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT color=#003399>Notes From a Dreamer</FONT></A>.</DIV></DIV>