Twenty years ago I talked to an old cabinet maker in Germany who told
me of his years as a young journeyman polishing pianos.  I was familiar
with some basics of ("French") shellac polishing, but I didn't know
what to make of his account.

He told me of rubbing pumice and acid (I believe he said sulfuric
acid) on countless grand piano tops with his bare palms, and of what
it did to his hands.  I never quite took his story at face value but
I could see no reason he would be making it up, so I just filed it in
the back of my mind under "curious stories".

Thank you, Paddy Handscombe, for your description of classic piano
finishing and confirming for me the old-timer's statement [000803 MMD].
Now _that's_ hand polishing!

Jurgen Goering