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<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">1913 - I'd recommend you purchase an
atlas. It really is a small expenditure for a wealth of
information.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Bring the piano up to pitch.
</FONT><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Then I'd suggest tuning. Just back
the pins to break any surface rust then yank 'em up to pitch. No need to
dawdle. They'll either take it or not. If not, it's time for a
realistic conversation with the new owner as to it's musical worth.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">If a strings haven't enough structural
integrity to come to pitch, then it needs restringing. If the block is
like new and rest of the piano is in a condition to justify it, restringing
seems like it shouldn't be out of the question.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">I doubt the clear coat had any marked effect
on bridge preservation, BTW. The splits form due to the side bearing at
the bridge pins. Now, if the "clear coat" were epoxy, that'd be
different. ;-]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">William R. Monroe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV>Greetings,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> A church got a
free Ivers and Pond grand piano given to them. Serial 52183. What is the mfg
date? It is 100 cents flat. Upon examination of the bridges, it looks as
if some tech shellacked or poly clear coated the <EM>entire bridge </EM>along
with the sound board. I mean the clear coat (whatever it is)(its super glossy)
is over all the bearing surfaces as well as down over the sides of the bridges
and the sound board as well. The bridges were actually "saved" from further
splitting, because there are very slight splits near the bridge pins, but
they are all coated.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> The pinblock is like
new. I am almost sure it is a replacement. My gut feeling is
not to pitch raise this one, just because of its estimated age. The
strings would probably withstand it but I dunno...any suggestions?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks in advance,</DIV>
<DIV>Julia Gottshall</DIV>
<DIV>Reading, PA</DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>