thanks for the comments everyone "Have you thought about a C/A treatment, instead of new pins?" yes. i decided that would be the best route after seeing the piano again. it had been a year since i last looked at the piano and i failed to take notes on the condition the first time around. it's a 1926 Vose and Sons small grand. i think it had been refurbished when the owner bought it in the 70's. it just looks like it was probably a light refurbish job, if you know what i mean. strings corroded, cracked bridges and soundboard, loose tuning pins, with a handful of oversized pins sprinkled in to make it look nice. the action looks and feels rough: keys need bushing, hammers deeply grooved, etc. just doesn't look and feel like a piano that was rebuilt or even well-refurbished in the 70's. i told her i'd hate to see her pay for new pins with the rest of the piano in the shape it is. daniel