Multimillion dollar Steinway pianos

I am reminded of a story that the late Mike Kitner told me about
his experience at the Asa Packer mansion in Pennsylvania.  He was
there at the mansion to tune the piano, and when he approached the
room he heard the tour guide tell the audience that this was the
only Steinway player ever made and that it had solid gold strings, 
and it never needed tuning, and that it was worth millions.

When the tour concluded, Mike explained to the tour guide that it
was one of many pianos, and that the strings were not solid gold.
She thanked him and said she completely understood his explanation.

About a year later, Mike was at the mansion, tuning the very same
piano, when the same tour guide told the audience that this was the
only Steinway player ever made and that it had solid gold strings and
never needed tuning -- even while Mike was tuning the very piano!

So much for sweet, misinformed tour guides; impressing the audience
is a million dollar endeavor!

Lester Wolff

 [ Tourists expect to be entertained so tour operators provide
 [ entertaining stories.  (Leave a nice tip for the tour guide! ;-)
 [ -- Robbie