Jar of Water in Piano--Truth or myth?

[Carl Meyer]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Gamble" <michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk>
To: "Mike Kurta" <mkurta@adelphia.net>
Cc: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 7:47 AM
Subject: Re: Jar of Water in Piano--Truth or myth?


> Hello Mike Kurta & List
> It may be our weather in the UK, but many people have installed central 
> heating in ther homes and central heating is a killer to the older pianos. 
> By older, I mean pre-1960s. After that date kiln dried woods were used in 
> piano construction, which, after shaping/planing, whatever, was then 
> sealed. Take Knight pianos and Danemann pianos which in this country were 
> made in vast quantities and sold, principally, to schools. Those pianos do 
> not seem to be so adversely affected by the drying out process of central 
> heating. I have many times instructed a client with an older upright to 
> get as LARGE a surface area container as possible to fit on the bottom 
> board of the piano, fill with water, mark where the water comes up to and 
> monitor its evaporation. If they notice the water going down they know 
> that were that container not there the moisture would have been extracted 
> from their piano...!!! This is motivation  in taking care of their piano - 
> which can't be a bad idea. I usually instruct them to get one of those 
> sturdy plastic containers from a delicatessen or a used large ice-cream 
> tub. No need for any wicking, the large surface area takes care of itself. 
> The results on many older pianos can be quite remarkable. Pin blocks 
> tighten up, tuning becomes more stable etc. So don't knock the use of 
> water in this type of scenario - it works. It really does. At least it 
> does in the UK. Maybe our water is stronger?


If your water is too strong, try diluting it with Gin or Scotch.

Carl Meyer PTG assoc
Santa Clara, Ca.



> Regards from a sunny spring day in the Downland Village
> Michael G.(UK)
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Kurta" <mkurta@adelphia.net>
> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 12:06 PM
> Subject: Re: Jar of Water in Piano--Truth or myth?
>
>
>>    I also have seen many empty Mason jars in the bottom of vertical 
>> pianos.
>> Its my feeling that the surface area of the water exposed to the air is 
>> too
>> small to have any real benefit, and without some method of infusing the
>> moisture into the air (fan, heat, whatever) is does little good.  Then, 
>> the
>> adage "out of sight, out of mind" takes over, the owner forgets to fill 
>> the
>> jar, and its ineffective anyway.
>>    Mike Kurta
>>    Auburn, NY  Home of the Wegman piano
>>
>>
>
>
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