Coffee spill on the Bridge

[Otto Keyes]

Depending on what was in the coffee, could inhibit rendering of strings for
tuning (though, given the recent discussion on this list, that may or may
not be an issue, depending on your viewpoint).

However, now that I think about it, good, strong black espresso may
stimulate that added excitement we've been talking about, canceling the need
to raise the pitch standard.

I can see a new market opening up for Starbucks here!  Buy your shares
before they make the move!   :-)

(Can somebody develop a soundboard coffee mop?  Or perhaps a caffeine
injection annealing process to get the strings really wired?  The potential
here is endless.)

Otto

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>; "Newtonburg"
<pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 10:40 AM
Subject: Coffee spill on the Bridge


> Hi folks
>
> I need some advice.
>
> Today I found that one of our practice grands, a Bluther which was in
> quite good shape, had taken a rather nasty hit.  Upon entering the room
> I noticed a plastic coffee cup sitting on the top of the piano.  The cup
> then was just over the bridge at the break between the treble and high
> treble sections.  There was an obvious stain on the top and upon looking
> in the top six notes of the treble section were soaked (still somewhat
> dampI and there was dried coffee stain spread out around the surrounding
> area on both sides of the soundboard.  It appeared that the person
> responsible had spilled the coffee...said " Opps ! " and sat the still
> not completely empty coffee cup up back where it had been and just
> continued to play... thinking nothing really of it.
>
> I am asked to write a report describing the extent and seriousness of
> the damage and this is what I need your advice on. This is  University
> environment so there is a certain need for formalities and
> accountability involved.
>
> I want the seriousness of this kind of misuse of instruments accented,
> and the resulting damage potential underlined as much as is advisable
> without overstateing the problem.
>
> I thought of making the following points.
>
> 1.  The wood will soak in much moisture and attempt to swell, which will
> be resisted by the bridge pins resulting in compressed bridge pin holes
> which will yield  loose pins upon drying out.
>
> 2. This can contribute to cracking around the bridge pins both because
> of the sideways stress of the bridge pins on the cap while wet, and the
> resulting compression of the wood around the pins.
>
> 3.  Potential for weakening the glue joint between bridge and soundboard.
>
> 4.  Localized swelling of the panel around the bridge area can result in
> unpredicatble changes in local crown with whatever effect on the sound
> that results.
>
> 5. Rust on both strings and bridge pins.
>
> Please advise as to the validity of these claims and any other points
> that should be raised.
>
> Thanks muchly
>
> RicB
>
>
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