[CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar

[David Ilvedson]

I have had the kitchen oils situation deaden bass strings but the Pledge inside the piano is a new one.   I think Andrew needs to determine who has been servicing the pianos at the University and then call Boston for recommendations.   Not a good situation for anybody, but if someone did this to the pianos in the name of servicing, it is a especially sad....

David I.



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Jim Harvey" <harvey@greenwood.net>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Received: 10/7/2005 5:06:52 PM
Subject: RE: [CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar


>There have been cases of factory "oversights", regardless of
>manufacturer. All that I'm aware of were innocent in nature. That is,
>they were attempts by the workers at doing something faster, better, or
>easier, and NOT byproducts of a design or manufacturing requirement.
>(This does _not_ include things like soaking hammer flanges in mutton
>tallow, which was a manufacturing decision).

>This situation, however, is a new phenomenon to me. I don't know the how
>many pianos are considered a "bunch" in Laredo, but you could consider
>removing the pressure bar for cleaning. Unfortunately, I think this is
>the least of the problem. As you indicated, the material has or -will-
>travel. It will compromise bass strings and affect sound transfer
>through the bridges.

>At this point, and based on your description alone, it seems unlikely
>that heat or solvents is going to do the trick. Depending on what the
>foreign material actually is, it's also possible that removing/replacing
>strings and cleaning everything in sight may not work.

>I feel that the condition was caused by another "PRN" rather than the
>factory. Otherwise, I can recall at least two instances of a similar
>nature. One involved "blow-by" from the kitchen in a restaurant. The
>entire piano was absolutely dead within six months. The other was ...
>something (Pledge, lemon oil?) applied by an overzealous housekeeper.
>Either of these had the same end results as you seem to be experiencing.

>Just my take...
>Jim Harvey

>-----Original Message-----
>>>> >Is this normal?  Making unisons stable is a bit of a chore.  No
>>>> >wonder they were warbling & howling.  Do they come from the factory
>>>> >this way? or did one of the past piana toonas oil everything up?
>>>>
>>>> >Over lubricated in Laredo,
>>>> >Andrew

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