Thanks Willem, a healthy and prosperous new year to you. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Monday, December 27, 1999 6:14 PM Subject: rare and unsual was Tuesday evening's tuning > In a message dated 12/24/99 2:52:23 AM !!!First Boot!!!, nlm@csu.cted.net > writes: > > << Hi Willem, > > What would be your take on rare and unusual circumstances for restoring > pianos? > > Have a great holiday. > > Doug Mahard, Associate >> > > > Doug: > > Sorry it took so long to get back to you. We just came back from 4 days in > Colorado. > > Rare and unusual pianos are those of extraordinary or exceptional quality, or > unusual case design. There were some companies that stayed in business only > for a short period of time, but still produced a very good piano, as > described above. So this list is not limited to Steinway, Baldwin Chickering, > etc. However, even those brands were subjected to unusual conditions, that > would make them irreparable at an acceptable cost. > > But because we make money working on pianos, and there are customers who > don't seem to understand the problems that pianos can develop, there will be > occasions when we must rebuild a piano, even against our better judgment. > > Case in point. About 15 years ago a man called and told me he had a "concert > grand" on his pickup truck and wanted to deliver it to my shop so I could > rebuild it. When he got there, it was an old upright. It did have "concert > grand" on the fall board. He bought it at an antique store in the Ozark > Mountains, and he was bound and determined to have me rebuild it. After > analyzing the piano, I told him what I could do, and how much it was going to > be. But also warned him what I could not do, and what the end result was > going to be. I basically tried to talk him out of having me do the work. He > still had me do it, and paid me for my work. The only reason he wanted this > piano was because it had his last name on the fall board. (It wasn't a name I > recognized, but it was mentioned in the Atlas.) > > So what is my take on rare and unusual? Is, whatever the customer is willing > to pay, a correct answer? You be the judge. > > Willem Blees > >
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