In response to Bruce Clark, I must say "Yes, you should ALWAYS replace
ALL electrical wiring with new EVERY time you restore a piano or even
refurbish it."

In our shop we would no more leave old wire than we would fly from a
fourth story window.  It might be just fine right now, but in five or ten
years -- who knows?   Do you want to go into your piano every couple of
years to check on the wiring you should have replaced up front?  I know
player folk who do that to all other parts of their instrument and they
are constantly having to tear into the player to replace the next round
of stuff to fail.  We suggest, "Do it all now and enjoy the music for the
next 30 years."

When replacing wire use good quality black extension cord wire of thicker
gauge than the original if possible.  This will insure that you will
never have heat buildup.  You may also use "Greenfield" or metal clad wire
but look for larger gauges as before.

Also every switch and plug should be taken apart and have all parts
cleaned until the brass is brass color again.  If you have ever opened up
an antique on/off switch you will notice that all the contacts are black.
Every time the piano goes off the contacts arc fire and burn a little.
After enough times of doing that, the resistance when the switch is on
rises eventually to the point that the switch heats up and eventually
burns.

Another item that is VERY important for your Steinway or Knabe or
Reproducing pianos especially is "*Have the motors refurbished* by a
professional motor shop."  I have seen several fine Steinway Duo_Arts
that started a house fire, or -- if they were caught in time -- just have
a neat round burned hole in the soundboard above the motor.

Your motor professional will go into the motor coils and replace the
insulated wire leads into the motor.  He will also check the bearings,
brushes, starters and everything else.

This service usually costs around $150, but you cannot replace the motor
for that as it is a special speed for pianos.  You certainly cannot
replace your house for that if it burns down.  Since we send every motor
out during restoration that liability rests with the motor shop.

D. L. Bullock   Piano World  St. Louis