Delaminated pin block query

[pianoman]

Hi Les,
I didn't even know that grands as small as this were made that early.
James Grebe
R.P.T. from St. Louis
pianoman@inlink.com
"Only my best is good enough"

----------
> From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Delaminated pin block
> Date: Friday, November 14, 1997 8:00 PM
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Don wrote:
> > The Piano...well that is being generous  
> > A 4' 9" grand made by Mason & Risch some time before 1895, ivory keys
in
> > mint condition 
> > BUT pin block three layer...bottom layer mostly separated...like an 1/8
of
> > an inch.
> > Question:
> > Any point in removing the action, jacking up the delaminated layer, and
> > using CA glue copiously?
> > I can not honestly suggest the instrument is *worthy* of a replacement
pin
> > block. There is little or no sentimental value folks.
> > Opinions please...and if you want to reply privately I will understand.
*grin*
> 
> The last time I saw a problem like that it was caused by a tech attempt-
> ing to correct a "loose pin" problem by hammering every pin in the piano
> as deeply into the pinblock as possible without supporting the block from
> underneath first. The end result was that not only did he break the
bottom
> lamination of the block free, but he also impaled it on the drop screw
> heads as well. Let's just say that removal of the action would have been
> "problematic" at best. Even if the action HAD been removable, however, I
> still would have passed on attempting any kind of repair because there
> were other obvious problems with both bridges, the soundboard and the
bass
> strings which would have also had to be attended to before the piano
could
> be tuned. And I never even bothered to check out the action. The value of
> even only the minimal repairs necessary to make the piano tunable and
> playable would have far exceeded the value of the "instrument".
> 
> I know that M&R is a highly regarded name in pianos up in Canada, and I
> would certainly never try to impinge its name to anyone holding a hoc-
> key stick :), but seriously how much is a 100+ year old 4'9" M&R grand
> worth? Probably about as much s a set of used ivory keytops in "mint
> condition". Although we all have a tendency to come to think of ourselves
> as "Super-Tech", capable of handling any problem which comes our way,
> there are times when the best thing to do is simply to be upfront with
> the customer, tell them that the piano has out-lived its useful life,
> that the cost of the repairs would exceed the value of the instrument,
> and then move on to more worthwhile and rewarding work. I believe that
> this is probably one of those times. If they want to, they can after-
> wards call in a young, inexperienced tech who hasn't yet learned that
> there are times when the best thing to do is to simply walk away, and
> this piano can become a learning experience for HIM which he will never
> forget. In the meantime YOU can find yourself one of those fine, old
> Heintzmann uprights, whose design was based upon things Theodore learned
> when he was working at the Steinway factories here in the states in
> the early days. I think you'll find it to be much more rewarding work.  
> Old Theo had a keen eye!
> 
> Les Smith
> lessmith@buffnet.net
>