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<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> List</FON=
T></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4>Terrys po=
st on bridge capping sparked this post. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> &nb=
sp; Although our usual rebuild is some form of grand piano this year I've ha=
d a small run of people willing to rebuild solid post Victorian uprights. No=
boards but full sets of bridge caps, strings, key&action work &&nbs=
p;hand rubbed lacquer refinishing of the cases. These piano are well pr=
eserved Calif. pianos with boards still offering musical potential & of =
course the never to be seen again Victorian beauty.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> These pi=
anos are by brand name,Schaaf bros. 1903, Mason& Hamlin 1908. Baldwin 18=
85,(one of the first) & A Steinway k 1911. This is really weird. We don'=
t usually do more than one per year. My question, is this a trend anyone els=
e is seeing? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> My=
criteria for agreeing to take on these projects is that the boards must sti=
ll sing & not seriously cracked up & that basically a very good musi=
cal & aesthetic outcome can be assured. If the piano is a train wreck I =
don't take the job & I tell them the truth. Nothing marginal. been there=
done that & it's no fun.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> It's tru=
e (at least in Ca) that perhaps one in twenty uprights is worth doing in the=
musical sense but none except the Steinway is worth doing in the financial =
value sense. Make cents? Any way, despite my disclaimer statements to the cl=
ient (prior to rebuilding) as to its Monetary worth after rebuilding, which =
is that it wouldn't probably retail for half what they had in it they still =
choose to do it. The reasons are: Family piano, we liked the old look and so=
und. It sound better than the new pianos. The case is gorgeous. They'll neve=
r make these again etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4> That's i=
t. I guess there's folks with money & a different sat of priorities out =
there willing to do this. Oh yeah I love these Pianos man.</FONT></DIV=
>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=4></FONT> </=
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3 FAMILY=
="SERIF" PTSIZE="12">Dale Erwin<BR>Erwins Piano Restorations<BR>4721 Par=
ker Rd, Modesto, Ca. 95357<BR>erwinspiano@aol.com</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>