I have removed a Steinway keybed. They're tongue and groove (Spruce I think) with a "collector" on each end basically speaking and glued to the rim. As I recall, the panels are not glued together.
From the looks of things, point of impact was somewhere in the neighborhood of the locking piece of wood that pivots to hold the leg in the lock plates. In short, it was on it's side and fell over.
Putting repairs aside for the moment, time is needed to assess any additional effects of the impact. A complete tear down and inspection would accomplish this or a person could set this piano off in a corner and wait a few years. The latter not being practical, an accurate bid can't be submitted until the piano is totally taken apart. Long story short, it's cheaper to replace it.
Submitting a bid would have to include all the verbal and legal traffic that would no doubt come to be eventually.
If it were me, I'd bail ....... turn tail and run. There's easier money to be made. I don't need to expose myself to time sucking legal traffic and customer discontent to make a living.
If I had the chance to do the repairs without the encumbrance of the unknown, I'd bend the action support back, repair the keybed and keyframe, get the action parts working right again and put it in my living room ....... OR contact the owner and offer repairs without guarantees.
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Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
503-310-6965
Working the gravy zone for the rest of my days.
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2019 09:04
From: James Kelly
Subject: Pretty major impact damage...help!
It is sometimes possible to work with a public insurance adjuster since they know the best way to move the claims. This is probably a fairly involved claim and the amount of insurance will most likely limit the payout. Ed is right that a lawyer may be needed or at least should be consulted. The client should not sign any offers or releases from the insurance company until they have had time to make a case and do their homework. Establishing the exact responsibility is going to be a difficult task since the piano had to have passed through lots of hands to get from the US to Ireland. I hope the client can get a fair settlement .
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2019 08:46
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Pretty major impact damage...help!
The point of paying insurance is to return the unfortunate situation to a desirable quality of life with least distress possible.
If we are working for the insurance company or moving company, we seek the cheapest solution that can pass a minimum standard, or less. Many of us have seen examples of this kind of work.
If we are the piano owner's agent, we seek to define the best replacement for the loss.
It's the insurance company's responsibility and/or the moving company's responsibility to discern replacement costs before establishing the rate for coverage.
If the insurance company or moving company did not state a limit, it seems fair in this case to demand full replacement costs, delivery included.
A lawyer's services may be needed before long.
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Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
Original Message:
Sent: 11-27-2019 07:58
From: David Pinnegar
Subject: Pretty major impact damage...help!
Bearing in mind the disparity of insurance cover with the value of the instrument or amount of work appropriate to be done and possibly to no avail, I'd be tempted to look at other brands. Certainly in the UK, Steinway have high value because of the Marque. But other brands can be really beautiful and are really under valued. In my opinion Bechsteins have significant qualities and are often available in good condition even within the budget of the insured sum. The 1900-1910 vintage of Broadwood baby grands is superb and these instruments really are underappreciated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBOdhthgsxs is just such an instrument. This particular instrument needed hammer pins replacing and we inserted springs in the action to lighten it. But before the hammer pins were replaced a local piano dealer who saw it told me it wasn't worth more than £300. The reality is that it's a gem, as demonstrated by the recording. Steinways are not the only good instruments around.
Best wishes
David P
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David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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+44 1342 850594
Original Message------
Hi Michael. Where in County Clare are you? Wish I knew of you when I was visiting there......
Keybed replacement is not real difficult with some basic woodworking tools. I replaced one some years ago on an old Knabe grand. See pictures - sorry for poor quality - these were taken on one of the first digital cameras available. Action stack frame could be replaced by either buying a WNG frame, or contacting them and try to find an O where the frame was replaced by a WNG - maybe the original is available. I'll have an AIII frame available - probably not a good fit though.....
Just throwing these thoughts out there...
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Terry Farrell
Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
Brandon, Florida
terry@farrellpiano.com
813-684-3505
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