Dae Woo piano questions

[Christopher D. Purdy]

Hi,

I had a quick look at a 5' grand today that I promised to come back 
to.  This lady just bought it used and I am concerned about a couple 
of things.

First of all, the cat she bought it from said he bought it new seven 
years ago and it was rarely played.  Well, just by the glance I had I 
think it is older and it was obviously played often.  The hammers are 
grooved and it is obvious that someone replaced three bass strings. 
A fourth is missing still.

The piano is a "Willis & Sons" stencil made by Dae Woo.  I have had 
the good fortune to avoid these until now.  It is a model G-1A, 
serial #8610195.  My Pierce Atlas dates back to the Reagan 
administration.  Does anyone know when this piano was built?

Also, the broken bass string that is missing, there is still the coil 
of the original wire on the pin.  (broken at the agraff of course) 
Where the string went through the agraff, the string is worn FLAT.  I 
don't mean a little.  It looks like it was flattened with a hammer on 
an anvil.  I have never seen wear like this.  What in the world did 
this?  Is this why they have been breaking?  Are all the strings 
going to be like this?  I have seen the common stress or wear on a 
string before but this is really extreme.

As always, I appreciate everyone's help.

chris
-- 
Christopher D. Purdy R.P.T.
School of Music, Ohio University
Athens, Ohio  45701
(740) 593-1656
fax (740) 593-1429
purdy@ohiou.edu