Pianotech

  • 1.  1919 Steinway O with player

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2018 00:29
    Hello all,
    A school I tune for has recently been given this piano - a 1919 Steinway O with a player mechanism. Most of the instrument seems to be in relatively decent shape, but the player is toast, as evidenced by the many crumbled bits of tubing that fell out when I opened it. I'd love to get rid of the thing, and am wondering if any of you know of reasons not to (that's an incredibly valuable year/model/ that sort of thing, or other factors unforeseeable to me). 
    My reasons for wanting it out: besides the fact that I know I'll never be able to get it working, it's in the way of the action, and the bottom of the piano is sealed off in a fabric enclosure which dampens the tone considerably. In interest of getting the school the most serviceable instrument possible right now, I'd love to be done with the player. In the event that the school wanted to sell it to a restorer, should try to save and catalogue the various player parts? Does anyone out there use them? In the meantime, can someone describe to me the best method of disengaging the player in order to get at the action?
    Sorry, I know this is a lot of questions. Thanks for any help you can throw me.
    thumbnail image


    ------------------------------
    Robert Rothschild
    Santa Fe NM
    505-603-7906
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: 1919 Steinway O with player

    Posted 04-09-2018 02:37
    I think all of your questions should best be put to the people who have the most experence with this sort of piano: player piano enthusiasts. They will be able to answer them for you.

     There is at least one Facebook group you can connect with.
    But even better, post your question to the Mechanical Music Digest MMD

    http://www.mmdigest.com/

    ------------------------------
    Jurgen Goering
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: 1919 Steinway O with player

    Posted 04-09-2018 07:34
    The school should sell the piano and get something more suitable. The keys. are longer due to the Duo-Art mechanism over the keys. The action will always be a problem to remove because the lyre has to come off in order to remove the union blocks attached to the bottom of the keyboard.

    As it is now, it'll take 45 minutes to an hour to get the action out and another to replace it. This assemblage is not user friendly. Although it is about 6' in length, it is a 5'7" string frame. The added length is the result of the extended keyframe to accommodate the spool box and periphery.

    The school would be better served with a standard piano.

    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Jon Page
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: 1919 Steinway O with player

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2018 09:39
    Hi Robert, first off, my apologies.  The previous owner couldn't find a buyer so they opted to use it for a tax write off.  I have one of these on my database that has had the player action removed.  Gramma's Steinway.
     
    I agree with what Jon wrote.  Every time I tune this piano I cringe at the thought of having to access the action to do routine adjustments or repairs.  Scheduling for this piano is always a consideration.  Your school will soon see that this gift is actually a huge maintenance headache  ...........  more so than any other piano in the school.
     
    As for removing and disposing of the player action, the net gain overall will be minimal at best.  You still have to keep one of the union blocks to keep the una corda pedal functional.  You'll still have to remove the lyre to access the action.  The extra key length will add mass/weight to the feel of the piano keys.  They're not that much fun to play manually when compared to a standard piano.
     
    Selling it will be interesting but since it was a gift, any amount received for it's sale will be a gain.  Selling it for what collectors feel it should sell for will take a while.  From the sounds of things, this piano is still in original condition and has not had proper care from the day it was purchased new.  Good luck.
     
    Lar
     
     
     
     



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: 1919 Steinway O with player

    Member
    Posted 04-09-2018 20:17
    Why do schools and churches continue to accept these things ? The "donor" wants a tax deduction and takes a write off and the recipient is stuck with a sad excuse PSO/POS that a technician is expected to transform. In my experience it is rare that a donated piano is worth accepting. I would return to sender. Maybe a mechanical player tech will take it off their hands. Some people should be ashamed of themselves. If they really want to donate write a check to a piano fund..

    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: 1919 Steinway O with player

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-09-2018 22:38
    Thanks everyone for this enlightening, if grim picture. I'll just have to give it the old college try. In truth, the school has no money for any sort of piano, and I know the donor meant well by it.  And even in its sad state, this piano is a step up from the "Kingsbury" grand they had before!

    ------------------------------
    Robert Rothschild
    Santa Fe NM
    505-603-7906
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: 1919 Steinway O with player

    Posted 04-10-2018 09:36
    You might want to drop a note to Ferdinand Pointer - owner of The Piano Company in Clearwater, FL. He is a very kind and helpful gentleman who is a PTG member and has specialized in player pianos for at least 187 years. Well, maybe 50 or so. If anyone can answer your questions, he can. You could also try Debra Legg in Rockport, MA. She used to work with Ferd.

    ------------------------------
    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------

    Original Message