Had a VERY similar situation at Texas Tech. There was probably about 1 1/2 inches on each side. BOTH recital hall pianos kept getting damaged. Long story short-we (meaning I of course...after getting plans from our Theatre expert) installed some nice indoor/outdoor carpet on both sides of the door openings. When the doors to backstage were closed for recitals/rehearsals the carpet was not visible (although it obviously was "bulging out" in the back...but still not an issue at all). When the doors were opened, the carpet was then "taught" against the door frames on each side protecting the pianos as they were pushed through. WITH COVERS ON of course. Damage went to pretty much ZERO.
This is harder to picture and explain but it was very simple.
I went the "extra mile" and installed some decent oak moldings to cover the edges of the carpet. Also, this was only about a 2 to 3 ft area...not all the way from the floor to the tops of the doors. (It could even be only about a 12" area to protect the piano lids but we felt it wise to make it a nice large area).
Agree with advice already given about touching up what you can-but until other protection is in place...history will repeat itself.
(We also installed padded railings against the walls back-stage where the pianos were stored.) Hope this helps. It's a nice "summer project".
Original Message:
Sent: 4/29/2023 12:17:00 AM
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: RE: case damage on Steinway D
You might consider yourself lucky.
A nice Baldwin I rebuilt for a local university was completely thrashed within 6 months by the staff ramming it into door frames and shoving food service carts into it during lunches. They had damaged a leg before I was even able to inspect it after delivery. After their diligent work you couldn't tell that we had refinished it.
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Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 795-5170
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-27-2023 07:23
From: Paul Williams
Subject: case damage on Steinway D
Hi all,
Next door at the Koger Center, we have a 30 year old Steinway D that gets moved around quite a bit. I has to go through a fairly narrow double doorway with about an inch space on each side. Last week, some students or staff workers pushed it and scraped the side rubbing off some finish and replacing it with door paint.
I am not versed in refinishing at all and wonder what I might be able to do without getting into a refinishing expense.
I would love to get some of your ideas.
Thanks
Paul