Junk Pianos - Sad Shopping Story - update

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

Friends,

At 10:20 4/8/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>At 10:05 4/8/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>>I've had TWO incidences where I've been called out AFTER they have gone
>>to considerable expense and time spent on refinishing the piano--only to
>>find that the guts are totally shot, strings rusted, etc. One case was
>>particularly heartbreaking because it was a truly beautiful Victorian
>>(American, not overdamper). I'd like to have rebuilt it, but no way Jose
>>for them. The other was also a beauty: a magnificent 1904 Crown 4-pedal
>>upright. Sigh.
>>
>>Alan R. Barnard
>>Salem, MO
>
>
>I know that pain, too.  We all love pianos which can be rehabilitated - if 
>we didn't, would we be in this line of work?
>
>I may be pleasantly surprised at this $20 piano, but when the proud(?) new 
>owners are already allowing for the possibility of it being put to sleep, 
>I'm not holding my breath.
>
>Conrad Hoffsommer - Music Technician


I was mildly surprised. The $20 wonder was a 1924 Wellington 54".  A4 was 
at 428Hz (-45¢?).  Pinblock had been doped.

It was almost in tune with itself, but the treble pitch did sag a bit (to 
about -100¢).

The customer had "gone to a website" and gotten a set of keytops and put 
them on.  Not _too_ bad a job gluing them on, but naturally they had not 
been notched very well, nor filed flush with the sides of the keys.  I 
showed her how and why those things should be done.  I only filed one notch 
to make it work and show her - I didn't even offer to "finish" the job.

I only brought the pitch up to 430Hz for fear of opening a bigger can of 
worms with broken strings and even looser pins.  I _think_  it will hold at 
430, but at least it was able to be tuned to itself.

The check will get to the bank today... ;-}