Saturday, December 12, 2009

Over-doing

'Tis the season. Last December my work was down by 75% from the previous year. The piano business was really taking a hit from the down economy. This December, well, I think folks have finally gotten fed up with doing without. I'm presently swamped with work. So much so that I have postponed two new customers to having more involved work done after the new year. I tuned a somewhat decrepit, yet tunable, Welte - Mignon studio 'mirror' piano on Friday morning. It needs three hammer flanges (doubling as damper flanges) repinned. Things are playable and he agreed to schedule the repair for after the holidays. Friday afternoon I went to take a look at a Starck console. Just needs tuning (pretty routine). It does need new key tops. I'm scheduled to go back on the 30th to pick up the keys.

So what's the deal? I've got 12 hours days worth of key jobs in the workshop for the next week - at least! A rush job of key bushing, ivory repair, and backcheck releathering for a regular customer. Key tops and bushing for a new customer. Two sets at once of key tops for another newbie.

So far.

In shipment, due to arrive next week, three more key top jobs and one key bushing job. Next week I also have a tuning and repair on Tuesday morning.

I am sooooo tired. It'll all get done. On time. Somehow.

2 comments:

Bernard said...

Good news for you Deb, but I have come to the conclusion that pianists are a bit heavy handed in your 'neck of the woods'!
They get through keyboards like there was 'no tomorrow'.

deb said...

Does seem that way, doesn't it?! Do remember that these keys are shipped in from around the country...some from as far as 3000 miles away. I have a feeling that February will be extraordinarily slow.