>   Subject: Ivory keytops                                   (Doug Rhodes)
>   Subject: A Reproducing Piano's "Voice"                   (Terry Smythe)

•Dear friends,

I thought I'd throw in a thought or two.

Back in the winter of '92 I brought home a 1935 Chickering grand which
had been in storage since '88.  When set up in our living room, it was
very apparent that a number of ivories, probably about a third of them
had become very yellow.  Upon leaving the ivories open to the sun at all
times, at this time there is now way of telling which were yellow and
which were not.  Mother nature does wonders if given the proper amount
of time.

Concerning loud reproducers, I would hesitate to monkey with the player
mechanism to make it sound softer.  What I would do first is to make
absolutely certain that the piano action matches factory specs as far
as drop off and let off are concerned.  Don't used today's standards.
They are far too lenient.  Remember, American Piano Company offered
service contracts to their customers, which brought in servicemen twice
a year to tune and regulate the piano, making certain that it was up to
snuff.  Also make certain that there is no drag on poppets going through
bushings.  Once the player and the piano is in tip top shape, make
certain that the piano passes the test roll without a problem, then
voice your piano to match the room.  After that you should have no
problems.  (IMHO)

Best wishes,    Mike Walter