I knew a rebuilder (who has since departed) who threw away all the
original stacks and made new ones which used Popsicle sticks for poppets.
He said, "You young people don't know anything!  Don't rebuild that old
stuff, it takes too much time.  Make new ones!  I have a black woman who
makes all-new stacks for any piano for $100.  You young people don't know
anything."  Well, I guess he was right...

Although this may appear out of the ordinary, I feel that both the novice
and the experienced must continue to beware of people of worse character
than the cheapskate rebuilder or the rebuilder who is simply inept.

I'm talking about the fraudulent and deceitful merchants disguised as
rebuilders or restoration "experts".  There are _many_ cases of people
being deceived in these situations.  Although there are too many to
list here, a few come to mind.  One is a "procurer" of instruments for
unsuspecting customers.  He claims to be knowledgeable and claims to do
the rebuilding, but actually does nothing -- other than charging a premium
price and then sending out the work to the cheapest rebuilder.

The instruments are often offered as "fully restored, original and
complete", but are actually a hodge-podge of parts assembled from various
and assorted disemboweled smaller instruments.  The larger ex-player
pianos are the high dollar candidate for retrofitting, and usually billed
as "complete and original".  What reigns supreme here is, "If it doesn't
fit, _force it!"_

When the seller is confronted with the buyer's dismay (and he wants a
refund, too), the seller usually comes back with a response with the gist
of, "You can have your money back, but I want you to sign this letter
saying you won't talk badly of me to anyone."  The buyer now knows the
true meaning of the phrase, "caught between a rock and hard place".

There is nothing wrong with retrofitting instruments, but they should be
sold as just that, "retrofitted".  Obviously since the parts tended to
be mass produced, they can be retrofitted and function correctly.

Another great situation created by some is to offer an unbelievable deal
or items for sale.  Every few years an ad will appear in a reputable trade
paper which offers some rare instrument or instruments to the highest
bidder.  You will be requested to send in a deposit (usually to a post
office box) and then make an appointment to see the instrument.  One
situation offered a band organ and/or a coin-operated instrument in
this way.  When buyers either arrived or sent their deposits, they were
dismayed to learn that there were _no_ such instruments.  Even though the
perpetrator could be caught and sent to jail for the night, there is
usually no refund or recourse.  When a TV "sitcom" character was
discovered foisting a scam, he was asked, "Aren't you ashamed?"
"I'm ashamed I got caught," was the reply!

These situations described could be actual or not.  Although some people
have been stung horribly, most are lucky to have been dealt with fairly
and honestly.  One must realize that there are merchants in it only for
the money, and hope to get it at any cost -- usually yours.  Needless to
say, there are no free lunches.  If it is "too good to be true", it
probably is.  Be careful.   And HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Robin Pratt¶
Publisher, AMICA Bulletin