Hi Gang!  Many thanks for all of you who responded to our query about
"What is original."  We have come to this conclusion --

A piano is a musical instrument, first and foremost.  It is desirable
to keep the instrument as original as possible, but sometimes due to
abuse, poor quality of repairs, and harsh environments (all three in
this case) it is not always possible.  If this unit had been the only
Foster I had, I could not afford a new soundboard and pinblock so I
would have had to pronounce it "dead".

If this were an extremely rare brand piano, I would have no choice
but to install a new pinblock and soundboard.  But since I have a
replacement sitting around doing nothing but taking up space, I opted
to take advantage of it.  (Do some of you *still* think I am crazy for
buying derelict Foster pianos?  It just paid off!  :-)

So since this piano will receive an Ampico system, we have opted for
useable musical parts of the best condition we can provide, as well as
a handsome case, which is important but secondary.  Original back or
not, it _must_ be musical!

We mocked up the fit of everything yesterday,  The only difference
I could tell is that the keyboard supports were cast into the plate
1/8-inch higher, on the replacement strung back, causing the keybed to
sit up at an angle in the back.  I took the keybed back out and notched
it by that amount, set it back in, fastened it down and set the action
back in.  The dampers lined up to the strings just fine.

I then set the striking point, rough regulated it, realigned a few
hammers, and set a rough temperament.  The old piano is loud and nice
sounding, foretelling me of the tone it will have once it is restrung.

Next we completely assembled the cabinet, trying the fit of each piece.
This was the most time consuming part.  Everything finally fit all nice
and square.  Looking at it inside or out,  you will never be able to
tell it was built from two separate pianos.  It looks exactly like it
used to before we did anything.

Then we took everything back apart, and are in the process if stripping
everything inside and out, polishing and lacquering the metal parts.

After this is done, the piano will be restrung, and the nickel plating,
hammers, butts and damper felts replaced.  And anything else that looks
questionable.  When the piano suits me, and only when it does, we will
rebuild and install the Ampico.

Saving this piano is a good learning experience for us.  When we get
that deep into an instrument and examine and understand piano con-
struction, we will be able to take on any piano that comes our way!

This art case piano is like the Borg:  it looked at the other Foster
pianos and thought, "Resistance is futile.  You will be assimilated!"
:-)

Best Regards
Andy & Chris Taylor
Tempola Music Rolls
http://home.swbell.net/tempola/index.htm