Surprisingly wood does survive well under water. Recovering logs found in lakes and rivers that are over 100 years old is a big business nowadays. Woodworkers pay big bucks for the wood which is often of a better quality than that found in new growth forests. The pianos mentioned would have burst under the stress of the water softening the glues of course combined with the impact of the ship sinking. But the wood itself probably would have survived well. Depending on the temperature of the water wood and metal can survive for many years. A year ago I was in Tobermory Harbour in Ontario and I saw the remains of a turn of the century piano that was aboard a ferry boat that had burn't and sunk The iron frames and other remains of the piano were clearly visable from a glass bottom boat in only 6' of cold fresh water. the wooden remains of the ship were also in nearly mint condition. Two war ships from the war of 1812 between Canada and the U.S. are still lying on the bottom of Lake Ontario under 300'+- of water and from the pictures divers have taken, the ships are in perfect condition. The rigging and sails are still intact and little deterioration has taken place. Warm water animals and plants cause the most damage to wood underwater as wood under water in warmer climates is eaten by worms, snails and other sea creatures. Salt water will rust metal but not when it is deep down in the ocean where there is little oxygen. This is why people who skin dive in the tropics think wood and metal rots underwater- which it does. >From what I have read about the Titanic the wooden structures of the ships interior have collapsed due to the impact of the ship hitting the bottom at 30+ miles per hour or so, and the stress of the water pressure forcing it's way through the ship as it sank. As a curiosity the pianos would be of some interest but as a concert instument they would need some serious overhauling and rebuilding. ;-))) Nelson E. Denton R. A. Denton and Son Pipe Organ Builders Hamilton Ontario Canada http://www.freeyellow.com/members/radentonson
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC