In MMD 03.11.10 Damon Atchison wrote:

> It would likely sit in a Michigan garage.

Hi Damon,  Storing a piano in the garage will probably worsen the
condition and may cause wood joints to begin separating, including the
soundboard, frame posts and case.  Cracks in the soundboard will widen
and ribs separate with seasonal changes in climate.  Okay if you want
to get practice rebuilding a basket-case.  It's hard to say exactly
how bad it will get.

I think all good piano technicians need to have this experience of
rebuilding the entire piano.  Whether you should let this happen to
a valuable Ampico is another one of those ethical questions...

This is a good example of what happens in the life of many pianos.
They start out in the living room or public room and, when they don't
play as well, they are stored in a side room or 'out of the way'.
Then when the condition gets worse, priorities change and people
'need the room', so they move them out to the garage or barn.  Then
the weather really hits them hard and they age at lightning speed.
Then, when they are in such bad condition that most people don't know
what to do with them, they are discarded or broken up for parts,
or any number of unfortunate scenarios.

It's too bad but we can't expect pianos to hold up outside because
they are so affected by humidity and temperature changes.  They really
need a moderate climate and 'TLC'.  I guess there's one advantage for
the band organ.  ;(

Brian Smith
Calimesa, Calif.

 [ If not kept at constant humidity, the wood shrinks and expands
 [ and might ultimately crack or separate at the glued joints.
 [ If not kept at constant temperature the instrument goes out-of-tune.
 [ Yet the piano is still preferred as the solo instrument to perform
 [ a gamut of exciting and emotionally moving music.  -- Robbie