thoughts

I am removing old key bushings from a 1940 Mason Hamlin BB. In fact the keys have of date of 1938 stamped somewhere on them, so it must have taken awhile to leave the factory. I really enjoy this job because of it's mindless nature, allowing my mind to wander. What was the world like when this piano left the factory? Who has worked on and played this piano? Were there many parties over the past years? I say this because when getting an intimate look at the inside of a piano you see evidence of liquid spills. I like to think that at least there were good times that caused the stains. But if I ever own a piano, don't get near it will a drink in your hand.
This job was the first work I ever did on a piano, and I have refined my technique, mainly adding the little squeeze bottle to my tool drawer. You mix water with a little wallpaper remover and keep wetting the felt, soaking off the old hide glue that holds it into the key button. Hopefully it is hide glue. Occasionally you run into another glue (which I think may actually have been the case with my Mason here) which is a pvc based and tends to be gooier and harder to remove. I use a clothes steamer as well going over the holes several times. Then with my trusty exacto knife and hemostats I pull out the felt. All the while thinking about what I am going to have for lunch or will the Giants defense get it together. The day goes by.