Pat DeWitt wondered why no one mentioned the Givens book for budding
piano rebuilders.

I would tell them about the book, but I would put it way down on the
list.  While it was really revolutionary when it came out, it now makes
the understanding of restoration about as clear as mud.

What is says is mostly fine and any rebuilder needs one for reference
purposes, but there is much that is outdated since we cannot even use
the same leathers he was using.  There is much left out of the book.
When the book was written you could recover the pneumatics and the
darned things played like crazy for thirty years.  Now, thirty years
later, there is so much more needed to get them to play well.

I would suggest only Art Reblitz's book, "Player Piano Servicing &
Rebuilding", in this day and age, and I am sure there are some things
that are left for you to figure out yourself after reading that one as
well.

The school of hard knocks is the best learning experience.  Books can
only do so much.

D.L. Bullock
St. Louis
http://www.thepianoworld.com/