Wet and Wild Steinway

[A440A@AOL.COM]

Inre getting a quote from Steinway & Sons restoration dept: 
Paul asks:
<<Why just NY, Ed? There are other quite (perhaps more) competent restorers 
around?<< 

      Agreed,  I know from experience that insurance companies don't question 
Steinway restoration prices.  I like to use them as a baseline for deciding 
what the loss is. Then, if a technician  has a good relationship with a great 
restoration facility, then it is easy for them to put their reputation on the 
line for the quality of the finished piano.  
        The factory is not infallible, it is not the final, ultimate, 
forever-ever-amen facilty to get the most out of an old piano. And with the 
recent prices I saw posted in Reno, it is more expensive than any other place 
I have seen.  But it is a legitimate standard to arrive at a restoration 
figure.  I dunno, this has worked well for me in the past, others have better 
angles on complete restoration projects? 
REgards, 
ED Foote RPT