CAUT

  • 1.  cracked rim

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-09-2018 18:40
    In 40 years I've only run into this twice, both within the last year.
    1) 1933 Steinway A, on a school stage; I was checking it over for an estimate to repair water and other goop damage to the block and strings.
    I found a crack in the rim (case) about an inch above the soundboard, running for about 12 inches parallel to the soundboard, at the rear curve close to the bass end of the bass bridge. I can see and feel the crack on both the inside and outside of the case. It is not an open crack - no space between edges.

    My questions are:
    Would you fix this and if so how would you go about it?

    Does this affect the structural integrity of the instrument? How?

    2) A no name, used and abused grand in a 'wedding venue':
         The crack in the rim (case) is again about an inch above the soundboard, parallel to the soundboard, on the treble side beginning at the back end of the key bed, continuous through the curve at the treble end of the bass bridge. This is an extreme situation that will probably never be fixed. Just incidental that I've found these both recently.

    Nancy Salmon, RPT
    Lavale, MD 21502

    ------------------------------
    Nancy M. Salmon, RPT
    Frostburg State University
    LaVale, MD
    301-729-4171
    ------------------------------