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Save Parts?

  • 1.  Save Parts?

    Posted 12-08-2018 17:37
    I have two spinets that are done being pianos.  I researched on this community what parts to save, but I thought I'd ask again just in case anyone has any further thoughts.  The bench is pretty good, so I'll keep that, I've saved loads of screws already.  I still have the action and keyframe assembly (with keys) still intact.  I've saved the pins which look good when made into wind chimes or a mobile (almost like wind chimes).  What parts of the piano should I keep if I were to need them?  What parts should I throw out?

    Thank you.

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    Cobrun Sells
    C.J. Piano Tuner
    www.cjtuner.com
    cobrun94@yahoo.com
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  • 2.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-08-2018 18:22
    Corbrun,
    You save the screws? Maybe the large size 20 thru 24 that aren't available anymore. Coincidently, I recently toured the Microsoft mechanical engineering research facility where the head engineer stated that they don't save any screws that may go by the wayside with discarded projects. It's a waste of time for them to sort and re-file those screw in their vast fastener files. They simply have a local fastener company come into the facility every month and restock as necessary. What a cushy job.
    Roger
     





  • 3.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-08-2018 18:29
    Not the screws as much as the hinges and other hardware like pedals and casters.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 4.  RE: Save Parts?

    Posted 12-08-2018 20:19
    The lid can be used to place keys on when removing them and transport to a different area.
    The lid would also make a nice shelf, upside down with the bevel on the bottom.
    Music desk.
    Fallboard knobs.
    Key slip for a straight edge for under the hammers.
    Pedal lever arm springs/pivot gizmos.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 5.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-08-2018 20:27
    Saving the screws certainly doesn't hurt anything. Maybe not all of them, but it is helpful to have some replacements when you need them so you don't have to place a $20 minimum order for a 10c part. Don't ask me how I know that....

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 6.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2018 01:41
    I did this for a while; I salvaged and accumulated parts for unusual or obsolete piano designs.  Now I have a shop full of unneeded old parts.
    The majority of my business is newer pianos or very old uprights and those seem to be so wide-ranging that finding exact replacement parts might be beyond practicality.

    I suspect that the odd-ball spinets and strange uprights, at least in my territory have long been sent to piano Valhalla without my approval.  I have taken to burning old upright and spinet parts for my back-yard fire pit on cold nights.

    I do recommend salvaging large wood screws and perhaps a sample of any unusual flange or action screws, certainly a few sample parts of unusual design.  Hinges, hinge screws and case parts are valuable.  Even pedals can accumulate unnecessarily though.

    The value of an old spinet these days is so low that most owners are discarding many of them before calling a technician (at least in my area, YMMV).

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    Blaine Hebert
    Duarte CA
    626-795-5170
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  • 7.  RE: Save Parts?

    Posted 12-09-2018 08:40
    Come to think of it, I do have more lids; spinet, console and grand music desks than I know what to do with. But one day...

    A school was donated a S&S B without a music desk. One from an old HF Miller fit it perfectly, better in fact because it has the hinged back rest sitting into louvered slots as many newer makes have. I had to cut off the fronts of the slides a bit because the front of the desk is not cut thru. It looks great although it's brown instead of black.

    I am low on the trapwork gizmos.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 8.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2018 10:38
    "One piece at a a time,
    And it didn't cost me a dime..."

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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 9.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-12-2018 21:01
    I can't believe nobody noticed Mr. Wood's shout out to Johnny Cash. Well said sir . Well said indeed.

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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  • 10.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-13-2018 05:06
    Hell, yes!

    "Well, it's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56

    '57, '58' 59' automobile
    It's a '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67
    '68, '69, '70 automobile"

    from "One Piece at a Time," written by Wayne Kemp and recorded by Johnny Cash

    Alan


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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 11.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-13-2018 09:22
    Glad you noticed!

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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 12.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2018 16:03
    If the case is in decent shape, you can remove the plate and turn it into a nice desk. You could cut the bottom panel to lay down on top of the keybed for a flat veneered surface. The space between the keybed and soundboard allows computer cables and such a way towards an electric outlet (saw a hole through the soundboard to reach a socket.)

    Keep the pedals and trap levers to create new functions, like a pedal operated bottle opener. There’s a reason I know about that example.

    Creativity is your only limit!

    Joe Wiencek




  • 13.  RE: Save Parts?

    Posted 12-12-2018 20:23
    We work for a chain of piano stores who have a warehouse full of pianos that they become quite frustrated with every few months and end up taking them to the landfill.  There's only so many that you need, and then what?  Because sales are really good right now, that's where they're at.  If you all want some, I can lead you their direction.  Bring a semi, though.

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    Ted Rohde
    Central Illinois
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  • 14.  RE: Save Parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-12-2018 20:43
    It's funny how it seems that most piano technician' s shops tend to all look the same when it's time to "retire", actions and pianos and parts stacked and stored, squirreled away for that one time that "I'm going to need that"... Then it all gets thrown away (by someone else). 

    My wife is helping me not to repeat that pattern.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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