[ Dale Houser asked about repairs for an antique piano stool. ]

In an old warehouse here in Philadelphia there is a piano showroom that
I think will fall down if they put one more piano or refrigerator in
there.  In my travels through the several floors of junk (and I mean
_junk!_) there are innards of players, broken pianos, old refrigerators,
pipes that leak -- you name it, it's in there.

I saw many piano stools, most of which need loving care to make them
look good again.  As you snake your way up narrow isles and over trap-
doors that bow under your feet, you need to search for the appropriate
light switch to the area you are approaching.  Sometimes you must enter
a dark room in order to find the light switch, which might be behind you
above the door on the left, not the first or second place that you would
look.  And yes, I did find a kitchen sink in there.

The place is called Acme Pianos.  The phone number is (215)-468-7119.
I haven't been there in a year or two.  If you can describe your stool
to them (not that stool!), they may be able to ship part of a dinged-up,
orphaned unit to you.

I love the place.  The two guys I see there are great old fellows,
both getting up there in age.  They are friendly and wish to be helpful.
The guy who runs it had a hip replacement in 1998 or so, so he was
moving a little slower last I saw him.  It is worth the trip if you are
nearby.  It's a step back to a simpler time, before "taking inventory"
entered the vocabulary.

Most would toss out the stool and buy a new.  I commend you for trying
to save that old stool.

Larry Toto