'Matt Finish' on New York Steinway

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi John:

It has been traditional to finish Steinways in a "satin" finish for many
years. The Americans are just beginning to do the high polish polyester
type finishes in recent years. I assume you were exagerating about the
80 grit sandpaper. We have never seen that kind of finish on anything here.
It is quite common for refinishers to use 0000 steel wool and water to
achieve the satin finish on a high gloss lacquer finish after rubbing down
with fine wet-or-dry paper.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, Woodrow, John (Parramatta) wrote:

> List,
> An easy question for you US folk.
> 
> We don't get a lot of Steinways here in Australia but those that we do 
> are Hamburg.  Came across a supposed 10 year old New York B today 
> (looked at least 30 years old).  When I asked how the finish got 
> ruined (looked like somebody had taken a sheet of 80 grit sandpaper to 
> the whole piano), the owner told me that for 'environmental reasons' 
> this is how a matt finish is done on a New York piano.  It looked 
> terrible.
> 
> Is this for real, or is somebody having this little Aussie on?
> 
> Regards,
> John Woodrow
> Sydney Australia
> 
>