In response to Darren Willard in the Mechanical Music Digest (99.12.27)
I feel very strongly that repairing the guts or at least getting a good
estimate on the cost of repair should be a top priority.
On more than one occasion I have had to tell a prospective customer
that their upright needed many thousands of dollars of work only to
have them tell me, "But I just spent $2000.00 to have it refinished!"
This is followed by great wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth.
In one memorable case the pin block was badly split, the moths had
eaten most of the felt in the piano (even started on the hammers),
both bridges were split and the bass one was loose, and you could see
the rust on the steel bass strings, etc. -- but it was very nicely
refinished.
As far as finding a player action, this is questionable since the piano
action spread (space between notes) did vary from piano to piano. I do
not know how consistent Cable was. Your first try might be a success
or you may never find a match. Have you considered an after-market
electronic player like a PianoDisc?
Is the piano worth the cost if there is no sentimental value in it?
Sometimes pianos, like cars, come to the point where they are not worth
keeping.
John Dewey
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