Terms

[PSFInc]

Jim,

We have done several museum quality restorations around the country. We have
been currently commissioned to restore John Ringling's 1871 Steinway B
artcase for the John and Mable Ringling Museum. Once completed it will take
it's place among the collection of "Rubens" that he personally collected.
The largest collection in the world.
The piano itself is rosewood, with marquetry and inlays of gold. The legs
are lion's paws, quite a site. We have complete the refinishing of the case
and the gold leafing and are now moving on to the belly work. The piano
should be in our facility for another 2 months before being returned to the
Ca D Zan, John Ringling's estate home which is also under renovation. If you
or another technician would like to see the restoration in progress give us
a call.

Regards,

Ed Mashburn,RPT
Piano services of Florida,Inc.
941-924-0722

----- Original Message -----
From: <JIMRPT@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 10:50 PM
Subject: Re: Terms


> Re- what??
> In the final analysis, as in so much else in this business, it is the
domain
> of the tech and the customer too decide what any specific re-whatever
means
> to them and their contract for the re-whatevering.
>
> Definitons are not much help, i.e.,: (AHD)
> Rebuild-"1. To build again."
> Restore-"2. To bring back to an original condition:"
> Refurbish-"To make clean, bright, or fresh again; renovate"
> Renovate-"1. To restore to an earlier condition, as by repairing or
> remodeling."
> Repair-"3. To renew or revitalize."
>
>   So you see the meanings of each of these words can be interchangable and
it
> doesn't do us well to fulminate ad infinitum over them.
>
>  Now don't go saying that PTG has defined these terms cause it ain't
> needfully so..at least in the context of "rebuild" versus "restore" as has
> been tossed around these last few days. In the PTG Tech bulletin on
> "Rebuilding/Reconditioning"
> it says......."Rebuilding *restores* the piano to original condition or
> better."
> Well then y'all if "Rebuilding *restores* to original condition" what the
> heck do *restoration* do?
>
>  Is there a difference between "rebuild" and "restore"...well in my mind
> there is but this is always guided by the customer. If'n I gots ta use a
> chisel and maul it gonna cost more than if'n I can use a router...doncha
> know?? :-)
>
>  A museum quality "restoration" (original spec everything) is a very
> expensive and time intensive project and not one that we as techs are
likely
> to run into very often. A true "restoration" in this sense means that if
the
> original had hand cut screws or bolts and you did not use hand cut screws
and
> bolts to replace those which were unusable from the original you have not
> done a 'true' restoration. If the dampers of the original came from Merino
> sheep and the ones you installed did not come from Merino sheep you have
not
> done a true "restoration". If you improved the playability in the
slightest
> degree from the original you have not done a true "restoration".
Well.......
> you get the idea huh?
>
>  Has anyone on the list ever truly done a museum quality "restoration" I'd
be
> willing to bet not......course it wouldn't be the first time I have been
> wrong! :-)
>
>   So go forth and do good without regard as to which re-? you decide to
do.
> My view.
> Jim Bryant (FL)