Dunce of the Year

[Tom Servinsky]

List,
OK,I'll come forward with the all-time dumb one.
Several years ago the famous Dr. Karl Haus, music lecturer and pianist,came
to our college for a concert and radio broadcast.  I happened to end up on
crutches days before the concert due to a leg muscle tear. The doctor had
ordered complete bed rest which I knew I wouldn't be able to follow.
Having little strength to work with,I asked a few music majors students to
help carry tools and help with removing the action of the Steinway D  grand
piano.
  After the prep work was completed I put the action in placed and had the
students, per my instruction, put the fallboard back and screw into place.
Dr. Haus showed up shortly thereafter and began practicing. I eventually
introduced myself and made myself available for any changes he might want.
He said, "You know, young man, I've complained about this for years, but
these CBS Steinways always feel as though there's a hammer or something
laying on the keys, and I can't find anyone to correct this problems. I have
complained to  Steinway for years and can't find willing to address this
problem."
I told him that during his brief break I would look things over and give
attention to this area.
 He decided to do a quick potty break and I hobbled over to the
piano,quickly removing the fallboard.
Low and behold...there it was the problem.
The students had accidentally left a full sized hammer laying on the keys. I
quickly removed the hammer and put the fallboard back as you could hear Dr.
Haus flushing the toilet in the background..a true Achie Bunker moment.
 Trying not to look embarrassed,I told him that I'm sure I corrected the
problem. He basically looked at me with this nonsense stare and
said...."obviously young man you don't understand the profound engineering
problems that are causing the problem and this would take major rebuilding
to correct". I told him that I made a quick change and  I think the problem
is a past issue.
The astonished look on his face when he sat down to play  and said
" AMAZING", was enough to make me pee my pants. The intense urge to laugh at
the stupidity of the situation, combined for an embarrassing/ hilarious
moment I will never forget. He jotted Steinway's phone number down and
instructed me (at once )to call Steinway and announce my miracle find. He
thinks I addressed this long standing problem he claims he has  encountered
world wide.
I had to excuse myself from our serious conversation and quickly went to the
green room where I burst out laughing.
He even went to lengths to mention this miracle find in his radio broadcast
the following morning.
So the rest of you are accidentally( or intentionally) leaving full size
hammers  on the keys before Dr. Haus's concerts....come forward and fess up.

Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "David M. Porritt" <dm.porritt@verizon.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 10:04 AM
Subject: Re: Dunce of the Year


> Avery:
>
> I'm sure it would be a very short and unpopular thread to tell the
> dumbest things we have ever done.  If only there was a way to post
> anonymously!  Like you, a 29 year vet of this business, it's so
> embarrassing when you are repinning hammer shanks to put a flange on
> the rail and see the knuckle looking up instead of down!  Yep, I've
> done it!  Sometimes the brain just takes a vacation!
>
> dave
>
> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
>
> On 3/10/02 at 6:26 AM Avery Todd wrote:
>
> >List,
> >
> >Well, I'm admitting it! I made a really stupid mistake
> >today. I'm only telling this to remind others of the
> >possibility.
> >
> >As you all know, most pianos have the felt lined cutouts
> >for the pedals on the front side. Well, that's what I
> >was thinking (without thinking, of course). The problem
> >was that Steinways don't because of being able to remove
> >the pedals from the front with the plate.
> >
> >Today, I found an 'L' where the bottom box had come loose
> >and was sitting almost on the floor. I took it to the shop
> >to reglue it. My problem was that because of the felt thing
> >mentioned above, I glued it in backwards!!!!!! :-(
> >
> >Thankfully, when I went back to put everything together and
> >reinstall the lyre, only about 1-1/2 hours had passed, but
> >with heat and some wedging and prying, I was able to get it
> >separated and reglued correctly with very minimal damage!
> >(Thanks Danny Moore for the heat idea!) At first, all I
> >could think of was having to drill it out and replace the
> >dowel and wedge, etc.
> >
> >The second time I did a dry fit first just to make SURE!!!!
> >
> >I've only been working on pianos for almost 30 yrs. :-)
> >DUH!!!!
> >
> >Just a warning that's hopefully, able to help someone
> >else!
> >
> >Avery
> >
> >P.S. Les, that's why I didn't make it to the meeting today
> >with LaRoy! I really wanted to and intended to!
>
>
> _____________________________
> David M. Porritt
> dporritt@mail.smu.edu
> Meadows School of the Arts
> Southern Methodist University
> Dallas, TX 75275
> _____________________________
>