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Mice?

  • 1.  Mice?

    Posted 09-18-2020 19:29
    Encountered these discolorations this week.  I would have deduced mice, but I could find no other evidence of the critters.  Any other suggestions?  Or should I continue with the "mice" theory?   edit:  This customer actually had TWO pianos with identical staining.   Neither showed any further evidence of mice, and they were in DIFFERENT buildings!  One in the church, one in their fellowship hall.  Located on a mountain road near forest and creek.   
    discoloration on hammers
    discoloration on key buttons
    discolored hammers
    discolored key buttons


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    Timothy Edwards
    Beckley WV
    740-517-7636
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  • 2.  RE: Mice?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-18-2020 19:33
    Mice would be my vote. Oh, sorry, that's in November. I mean, I believe that it is mice, or mouse.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego




  • 3.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-18-2020 20:12
    This picture is pretty bad. I have often seen a less aggressive version of this in grands, but the appearance is still equally perplexing. I always thought it looked like mold of some sort.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 4.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-18-2020 20:41
    I have seen something similar on hammers of an upright piano which inside they sprayed with stuff to get rid of a roach infestation..... pretty gross
    Peter

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    Petrus Janssen
    Peachtree City GA
    678-416-8055
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  • 5.  RE: Mice?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-18-2020 20:26
    IF the top is the split type with the hinge left-right, I vote spill. I typically don't see mouse stains that dark on hammers unless they are growing mold (which I do see often). I do see stains on the keys like that but there are typically mouse droppings along with them. IDK. 🤷‍♀️ I'm so much help today. 😜

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    Maggie Jusiel, RPT
    Athens, WV
    (304)952-8615
    mags@timandmaggie.net
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  • 6.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-18-2020 21:00
    This customer actually had TWO pianos with identical staining.   Neither showed any further evidence of mice, and they were in DIFFERENT buildings!  One in the church, one in their fellowship hall.  Located on a mountain road near forest and creek.

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    Timothy Edwards
    Beckley WV
    740-517-7636
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  • 7.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-18-2020 21:38
    Mold

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 8.  RE: Mice?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-18-2020 22:20
    Mold is so common here, I bet Jon is right.

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    Maggie Jusiel, RPT
    Athens, WV
    (304)952-8615
    mags@timandmaggie.net
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  • 9.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-18-2020 22:33
    Any advice on treating mold in a piano?

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    Timothy Edwards
    Beckley WV
    740-517-7636
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  • 10.  RE: Mice?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-19-2020 00:11
    Rather than spending time, money and energy removing mold stains, perhaps they could use the money to start a fund to get newer instruments. 
    It shouldn't cost too much to upgrade from a 60 year old Wurlitzer spinet.

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    Steven Rosenthal
    Honolulu HI
    808-521-7129
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  • 11.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-19-2020 11:37
    Certainly a worthy suggestion.  Unfortunately, these poor folks could barely scrape together enough for a "standard" tuning, let alone some of the other work that was needed on the piano.  The piano had been given to them, and they were happy just to have it tuned 1/4 step low.  If any mold remediation is done, it'll probably be a matter of me instructing them regarding a DIY method.   I doubt they'll have the funds to pay me to do it.

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    Timothy Edwards
    Beckley WV
    740-517-7636
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  • 12.  RE: Mice?

    Posted 09-19-2020 13:00
    The hammers hitting the strings will broadcast mold spores into the air.  Is it good mold or bad mold?

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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