<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div>.....and let's not forget the "...BEAUTIFUL WURLITZER SPINET!" line shouted (to prompted applause) every day for years on "Let's Make a Deal!" Such repetitious "brainwashing", combined with the fact that Grandma's gorgeous Hallet and Davis didn't sound like much anymore, due to neglect and a dearth of reliable, shared information among tuners on how to mend it (this is a blatant plug for Reblitz's book, which was published by my friend and neighbor in '76!) created an ample market for these grizzly-sounding things. Sad.<br /> By the way: someone told me recently that boatloads of classic, high-quality American uprights ARE being shipped to China, where they are being refurbished and sold to collectors there as prized possessions. Verification, anyone? Are any coming back this way?? Nicely done???<br /><br />Thumpe</div></td></tr></table> <div id="_origMsg_"> <div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif:font-size:10pt"> <br /> <div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"> <font size="2" face="Tahoma"> <hr size="1"> <b> <span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span> </b> Paul Williams <pwilliams4@unl.edu>; <br> <b> <span style="font-weight:bold:">To:</span> </b> pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>; <br> <b> <span style="font-weight:bold:">Subject:</span> </b> Re: [pianotech] pulley key... <br> <b> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sent:</span> </b> Thu, Sep 27, 2012 9:29:16 PM <br> </font> <br> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="font:inherit;"> <div>Sure, I understand.  Every '70's sitcom or family TV show had a little spinet on the set! Edith Bunker "sure could roll out the "rag" stylie.  Ha ha!  Maybe she could play, but I doubt it.  And the piano was out of tune anyways!  At least the dad in Mary Poppins suggested that the piano should be tuned while tossing out one of his songs in that merry show!</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Just keep the country moving up..screw the piano, just get-r-done!</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Those were the days!</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Paul</div> <div><br> </div> <div><br> </div> <span id="OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"> <div style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt;text-align:left;color:black;BORDER-BOTTOM:medium none;BORDER-LEFT:medium none;PADDING-BOTTOM:0in;PADDING-LEFT:0in;PADDING-RIGHT:0in;BORDER-TOP:#b5c4df 1pt solid;BORDER-RIGHT:medium none;PADDING-TOP:3pt;"> <span style="font-weight:bold;">From: </span>Delwin D Fandrich <<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">del@fandrichpiano.com</a>><br> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Reply-To: </span>"<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>" <<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Date: </span>Thursday, September 27, 2012 3:48 PM<br> <span style="font-weight:bold;">To: </span>"<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>" <<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Subject: </span>Re: [pianotech] pulley key...<br> </div> <div><br> </div> <div> <style></style> <div lang="EN-US"> <div class="WordSection1"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Well, that was about $2,300 in today’s dollars and I’m not sure you can buy a piano for that much now. Back then—early 1960s—a minimally decent console ran about $500 to $700 or about $3,800 $5,400 (if memory serves). Not all that much different from today’s market. Except that now they are all coming from Japan, Indonesia and China.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">  </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">And technicians <i>did</i> complain about the poor quality and performance of these pianos. But who was listening? Manufacturers (and dealers) were still selling everything they could crank out the doors regardless of quality or performance. America still had a thriving and growing middle class and pianos were still considered a family necessity—you weren’t considered “cultured” unless you had a piano in the living room and it didn’t matter if it was played or not. So who cared how many picky technicians complained? They just didn’t understand anything about “business.” Not real business, anyway.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">  </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">ddf </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">  </span></p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Delwin D Fandrich</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Piano Design & Fabrication</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">6939 Foothill Court SW, </span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Olympia, Washington 98512 USA</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#632423;"><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com" target="_blank" href="javascript:return"><span style="color:blue;">del@fandrichpiano.com </span></a></span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">— </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#632423;"><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="javascript:return"><span style="color:blue;">ddfandrich@gmail.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></p> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">  </span></p> <div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Paul Williams<br> <b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 27, 2012 1:01 PM<br> <b>To:</b> <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] pulley key...</span></p> </div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;">  </p> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">Thank God I've only had to deal with a few of these beasts over the years…</span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">What's worse: that, a Betsy Ross spinet, a Lester?   All nasty abuse (and demise) of the American piano! Or, the disintegration of great old names who became pianos "made in America by factory workers" or whatever that stupid sticker says.  Why did technicians let this continue back in the day and not speak up??  Did they really expect lots of business from these sad excuses for pianos??  If somebody bought a piano for $300, they certainly didn't consider keeping them up, right? Doesn't matter if the tunings back then were only $15-20.</span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">Don't take me as snobby here, but since I do very little tuning outside UNL, if somebody calls with a spinet (most any brand, although some Acrosonics I've tuned are sort of tolerable and playable when I'm finished with them) I refer them to another technician….someone in financial need of business mostly.  I won't refer them to a busy tech with enough to do…</span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">Is that so wronggggg?</span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">Paul</span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">From: </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">Delwin D Fandrich <<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">del@fandrichpiano.com</a>><br> <b>Reply-To: </b>"<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>" <<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br> <b>Date: </b>Thursday, September 27, 2012 2:46 PM<br> <b>To: </b>"<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>" <<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br> <b>Subject: </b>Re: [pianotech] pulley key...</span></p> </div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">  </span></p> </div> <div> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">No, the idea was that the dealer could run newspaper ads and put up big banners advertising, “New Grand Pianos from $295!” Even back in the 1960s that was a pretty low price and the strategy did bring in few customers. The dealer would then try to upgrade those customers to a real piano but there were always some who insisted on buying what was advertised.</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">ddf</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Delwin D Fandrich</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Piano Design & Fabrication</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;">6939 Foothill Court SW,</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Olympia, Washington 98512 USA</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(99, 36, 35);font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a></span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:navy;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:72.0pt;"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"><a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Euphonious Thumpe<br> <b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 27, 2012 10:51 AM<br> <b>To:</b> <a rel="nofollow" ymailto="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br> <b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] pulley key...</span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:72.0pt;"><span style="color:black;"> </span></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="624" style="width:468.0pt;margin-left:72.0pt;"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;"> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;">The "Grand" spinet (by, I believe, the "Grand Piano Company" of Roanoke) is quite possibly the worst piano ever built -- outside of something cobbled together in a garage by a hobbyist. They almost visibly twist while a tuning is attempted to be put into them, and were created, I suspect, so that people of very limited means <br> ( and/or education) could say: "I own a Grand Piano!" Despicable!!! While passing through Roanoke some years ago I noticed a burned-out hulk of a building downtown with "GRAND PIANO COMPANY" painted on it, which is why I suspect they were conjured up there. <br> <br> Thumpe</p> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div id="_origMsg_"> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:72.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> <div> <div style="margin-left:36.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-align:center;"> <span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif;"> <hr size="1" width="100%" align="center"> </span></div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:72.0pt;"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color:black;"></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </span> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div>