Dear MMDers:  You may recall my sad tale in 981221 MMDigest when
I related how a Steck Duo-Art being restored by a piano tech was
"dropped" during delivery, such that an assistant's "foot was broken",
that the piano was "irreparably damaged", including "pneumatics
everywhere" and a "broken plate (harp)".

The story does not have a happy ending.  The piano tech was a con man.

To bring everyone up to date:

(1)  There was never ANY piano -- the tech in question had sent pictures
of the outside of a Steck, the plate of a Steck, and others showing only
the spool box.  (To get the picture of the spool box he photographed
another piano.)  Note:  I _had_ met the tech personally, and seen other
pianos he had worked on, and he was introduced to me at the home of a
well-known and reputable collector, so maybe I'm not a complete fool.
However, he phoned me back after our meeting to tell me about the
"unrestored piano" in his warehouse.  The picture of the spool box
likely came from this collector's "music room", to which the tech had
frequent access;

(2)  Investigation has revealed that the technician has at least one
felony conviction, and several misdemeanor convictions, for fraud
offenses similar to that recited above;

(3)  I am attempting to have him prosecuted for larceny by trick
(or fraud, basically), and I've been told that a warrant has been issued
for his arrest; and

(4)  He "sold" pianos he didn't have to other folks, who lost even more
money than I lost.

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to all the people who wrote me
personally during these travails to offer suggestions, encouragement
and support.

Is there _any_ good news here?  Well, yes.  In my home state of Rhode
Island I did find a highly reputable tech, Kirk Russell, who sold me his
1924 Steinway Duo-Art XR and completed its restoration before delivery
(besides all the player work, also new strings and hammers).  (Kirk was
the chief tech at Providence's Avery Piano, formerly a Steinway store.)

This piano was delivered last week, and it delivers breathtaking per-
formances.  I can hardly leave the house in the morning (wanting to stay
all day and listen), or silence the instrument at night.  So far my
marriage is intact. ;-)  (Actually my wife is enjoying it very much --
no "piano widow" she).

Here's a controversial statement for MMD discussion:

I am convinced that if all reproducing pianos were restored properly
(as mine is), this hobby would not be slowly dying, and folks would be
lining up to buy them.  One would have to have a heart (and ear !) of
stone to not be moved by these wonderfully nuanced performances.

Hope all is well with everyone during this hot summer.

Tim Baxter