<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR><o:SmartTagType name="country-region" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype><o:SmartTagType name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagT= ype> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-GB id=role_body bottomMargin=7 vLink=#606420 = link=blue bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>You'll be doing MacDonald's out = of business with all those fancy burgers floating around, or do you mean "burghers"?</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anon</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk href="mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk">Michael Gamble</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=jodel@kairos.net = href="mailto:jodel@kairos.net">'John Delmore'</A> ; <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech'</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 03, 2005 = 7:13 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: some days you get = what you ask for</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Oh! Yes = John. I live near Lewes in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sussex</st1:place></st1:country-region> where, on Bonfire = Night (Nov.5<SUP>th</SUP>) the burgers of Lewes all dress up in costumes and = parade through that ancient town with brass and silver marching bands and = blazing torches. It’s quite a sight. Maybe one year I’ll have a blazing = piano mounted on a “float” and have it towed through the town – and thrown = into the river afterwards. Anyone got any ideas of what piano deserves such an end? = (I plump for an Eavestaff pianette) </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Wingdings = color=red size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: = Wingdings">J</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial">Regards<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Michael G.(<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place = w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT>= </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" = align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-US = style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN = lang=EN-US style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: = Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> John Delmore [mailto:jodel@kairos.net] <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> 03 October 2005 = 18:02<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> 'Pianotech'<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: some days you get = what you ask for</SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN = lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Just be = sure not to let the torch singe your hair!!  (Couldn’t resist!  Same = as the wrest pin/tuning pin, I’m sure you know that, across the pond, a = torch is a stick with fire on the end!)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN = lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" = align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-US = style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN = lang=EN-US style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: = Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: = bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Michael Gamble<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Monday, October 03, 2005 = 12:41 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> = Piannaman@aol.com; pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: = bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> RE: some days you get what you ask for</SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN = lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Yes, Dave,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">That was = some day for you. I always try to repair broken bass strings whenever possible, = even if it means cutting back the windings on the speaking length and making my = gnott there. I find it works for maybe the knot replaces the missing mass of = copper. I did that on one-of-a-pair of bass strings in an old Bluthner upright = (vertical) and there was no mis-match – isn’t that something? As = for treble pairs – again I try repair by “pulling it round”. Of course this = can only be done if the break occurs at the wrest pin (sorry, tuning pin). I keep = the string on the hitch by using a mini vise-clamp or even a surgical = clamp (Joe G <G> gave it another name, but I’ve forgotten). My light = frequently comes from a torch held in the teeth! Yummy!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Regards = from the failing light of a cloudy evening in The = Village.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Michael = G.(<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region = w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT>= </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" = align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN lang=EN-US = style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN = lang=EN-US style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: = Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Piannaman@aol.com [mailto:Piannaman@aol.com] <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> 03 October 2005 = 05:40<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> = pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> some days you get what = you ask for</SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=EN-US><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial">List,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial">Friday was certainly an interesting day on the job.  First piano was an old = Erhard upright, a nice old box made in 1919, pretty good shape.  It had = a broken high treble string on it, which I'd been aware of, and I replaced it = no problem.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Next = piano, Acrosonic, circa 1950s.  Pitch raise, twang, G#2 wound bicord snapped. A perfect candidate for one of the universal bass = strings a lug around.  As usual, spinning off excess copper was the most time = consuming part of this job.  Again, no real problem.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I was = thinking about how much I've improved in various repairs, thanks to many tips gleaned = from this list and elsewhere in the PTG.  This type of repair was once = something I dreaded, now it's just something I do in the line of = duty.  "But," I told myself, "don't get cocky.  How long's it been since = you've replaced a long wire in an understrung section of a piano?"  It = had been awhile.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Which = brings me to the next piano:  Steinway, a regular client, a nemesis piano that = always finds a way to lengthen the appointment beyond an acceptable = length.  A 1915 or so M re-whatevered badly a couple of decades ago.  I was = hoping for the best, but it was the usual 8-10 cent late-summer pitch = raise.  No problem, at least until I got to A3.  Twang.  The A#3-A3 = wire snapped.  Went to the car, got stringing stuff including tube to = get string onto hitch pin.  In the failing light of the day, I got = the job done, but time would have been saved had I brought in my shop light so = I could see better to route the wire through the bridge pins.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The = upside:  3 strings on the day, no bloody finger = tips.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The = weirdness:  Haven't had a string break in a few months.  Why did they all = gang up on me on one day???<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tip = #1:  putting some tension on the wire makes it MUCH easier to get the = string placed properly around the bridge pins in the understrung areas.  <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tip = #2:  Lighting is a good thing when doing this sort of job!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks for = reading,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dave = Stahl<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>=