Many thanks to both of you. You have given me good advice. I will let you know what happens when the adjuster evaluates the piano.In a message dated 12/12/2014 11:34:10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, disklavier@yahoogroups.com writes:since the amount of penetration in to the piano soft parts can vary greatly it might be good to test some hammers, for example, by bagging them and seeing how much they stink when you open the bag. if they do stink pretty badly you can be pretty sure that they contain corrosive residue that will compromise everything porous in the piano over time as Carol suggests.
type of material that burned to create the smoke, temperature of fire, proximity to the piano, temperature of piano, and then the most vague, convection patters of the smoke in the fire all work together to determine if the piano might have absorbed a lethal dose.
the electronics are cleanable and should be cleaned it they did get a big does but since the piano would be doomed anyway it would probably not be worth the cost to have it done professionally.
On 12/11/2014 7:07 PM, Carol Beigel carol@... [disklavier] wrote:Fires and pianos don’t mix well. The damage often appears years later; i.e. the buckskin in the action parts gets hard; glue joints break, pin blocks separate and God only knows what time has been taken away from those heat sensitive electronics! My advice to insurance companies is that the longevity of the useful life of the piano when purchased new has been compromised and that a replacement is in order. Assuming the piano would have had a useful life of 50 years so half of its life had already expired. The electronics alone were worth $7000 when new. If the piano is insured, you are owed money. Perhaps get a used one on eBay or something. It would be nice if you could collect the insurance settlement as well as keep the piano. You could clean it up and see if or how long it works. I am sorry about the fire damage to your home.
Carol BeigelRegistered Piano Technician
On Dec 11, 2014, at 9:39 AM, clays91740@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Hello Group,My DG-1 (wagon grand) and DSR-1 were exposed to very heavy smoke and soot in a fire at my home. I'm not sure if it still works or not. I'm wondering if any one on the list has had any experience with any like this.I purchased the piano new in 1992 and really want to keep it. I appreciate any information available.Clay SheltonPetersburg, VA-- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550-Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com (425) 791-0309
Message
Re: [disklavier] Fire damaged Disklavier
2014-12-12 by James Fry
Sorry to hear about your fire and the potential damage to your instrument.
I think I would quiz the loss adjuster on his knowledge of pianos before he sees the instrument. If he doesn't understand what a renner action is, the many points that have perishable parts in the action (felt, leather, even the wood), the important of the pinblock, materials used in the strings etc and you don't get a favourable response from the insurance company you should be on good grounds to demand they send an adjuster that understands pianos or adjust their figures to your benefit.
On 12 December 2014 at 17:44, clays91740@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote: