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I read the archived editions of MMD, and hope it is not too late
to respond to the posting of July 17 by Mr. Bruce Clark.

It happens that I have been a member of the PTG chapter nearest to him
since 1987.  Whatever disagreements he has had with the local tuning
fraternity predate my arrival, but I think my observations may still
have some validity.

The usual place of meeting, a piano store in Ithaca NY, is 20 miles
away, not 200.  There is another PTG chapter approximately one hour
away in Syracuse, and yet another two hours away in Rochester.

I have attended practically every meeting for the past 14 years.  The
suggestion of a room filled with cigar smoke and gratuitous insults
just does not jibe with present reality.  As to the past, since Harvey
Roehl was a member of our chapter for years, I would guess that our
membership was not all that hostile to people serious about rebuilding
player pianos.

The aforementioned store until recent years usually had a rebuilt
upright player or two in the showroom, and a few other chapter members
got involved to some minor degree with players as well.  I acknowledge
that some of the local technicians shy away from players, and one or
two would be capable of that foolish remark about bonfires, but
every profession has it's share of louts.

I have not met Mr. Clark, and do not intend this as a personal attack,
but I felt a response was finally necessary to his occasional postings
on the subject.

Thank you, Richard Friedman