Before we advise readers who may search the MMD Archives to replace
original motors in their pianos let's get some facts.  I'm in my
fortieth year as a restorer from the New York area now living near
Philadelphia.  This is the first time I have ever heard of a piano
catching fire due to the motor.

Before we go any farther talking about replacing motors let's
understand that we don't know if this motor was ever serviced or
whether the oil reservoirs were filled since the piano left the
factory.  Clearly this is an example of a motor causing a fire, but
does anyone know of a piano catching fire after the motor had normal
servicing by cleaning the mechanical centrifugal switch and filling
the wells with oil.  I have not.

Paul Manganaro