Piano Technicians Guild, Oklahoma Chapter 731

NOVEMBER – The November meeting of the PTG will be held on Thursday, November 18 at 8:30 AM at Albert Evans piano store, 4100 North MacArthur, Oklahoma City. Greg Lynch will present a technical on grand hammer hanging. Albert Evans will be available to answer all those questions you’ve always wanted to know about pianos, but were afraid to ask.

DECEMBER – Generally, there is not a regular chapter meeting in the month of December. In the past, the group has gotten together with their spouses for a Christmas dinner or party. The plan for this year is undecided. If anyone has any ideas or is interested in planning or hosting a Christmas party, please contact Ben Davis at 277-3022. This will be discussed at the November meeting.

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REMEMBER TO COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NOT YOUR TROUBLES.

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To quote our illustrious president, Bob Scheer, “Our nation was “rebushed” this past week!”

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Gene Black was redoing some OLD files and came across a letter from Bob Pierce. He thought that some of the members who knew Bob or knew of him might enjoy his outgoing sense of humor – especially his, at least self-perceived accomplishments in life at the bottom of his letterhead. The following is taken directly from his letterhead. Hope you enjoy.

“Bob Pierce – Retired from Business 1968”
Recent or current activities include:
Twice Commodore, Commodore Emeritus and Chairman of Board of Governors of Long Beach Yacht Club; Commodore Southern California Yachting Association of 68 Yacht Clubs; President Long Beach Chamber of Commerce; Vice Chairman Japan American Conference of Mayors and Chamber of Commerce Presidents; Twice Chairman, 12 Year Member Long Beach City Planning Commission; Salesman of Year Award (Greatest Voluntary Contribution to the City of Long Beach); Commendation Resolution from California State Legislature (Senate and Assembly); Chairman, Governing Board, St. Mary’s Medical Center, also Chairman Board of Trustees; Trustee Advisor, Southern California Hospital Council (250) Hospitals; President, International Beauty Pageant; Judge Japan Beauty Congress, (Tokyo); Sister City Committee Yokkaichi, Japan Executive Committee U.S. China Trade Fair and Trade Development Corporation; First Honorary World Ambassador, Port & City of Long Beach; Vice President Long Beach Harbor Facilities Corporation; Board of Governors Long Beach Grand Prix; Advisory Committee, Regional Adult Vocational Education Council (R.A.V.E.); Executive Committee, Industry Education Council of Long Beach; Vice President Long Beach Convention News Bureau; President Long Beach Promotions Incorporated; Vice Chairman Armed Forces Committee of Chamber of Commerce; Board of Governors Pacific Coast Club; Executive Committee Independent Business Men; Founder Sea Cemetery; Co-Founder of Sea Festival; Port Ambassador; DeMolay Legion of Honor; U.S. Navy WWII, South Pacific; Retired Organ & Piano Dealer, 42 Years; Celebrated Golden Anniversary in Piano-Organ Business; Internationally known as Mr. Piano; Original Huckster of No. 1 Hammond Organ (Now at Smithsonian); Publisher, Books Include, Pierce Piano Atlas, Known Worldwide; World Traveler, Yachtsman; Collector; Designer; Librarian; Historian; Keeper of Burgess; Chef of the Week; Reveller Charter Member H.A.V.C.; Admiral Texas Navy; Admiral Nebraska Navy; Kentucky Colonel; etc…

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FASTER
The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.
Socrates

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Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Wrench,
I am the prodigal tuner. I know I haven’t been to many meetings lately. I do, however, think of you often, especially when out tuning and I pass one of you on the turnpike. As of lately I have taken on a little project of improving my method for checking unisons when I finish a tuning. One of the things that can spoil the hard work of a well-crafted temperament and the right octave stretch is a sad little unison up around E5. So I have tried to hone my ability to catch unisons that might slip past me. Here’s what I do. When I finish tuning the piano, I play a song or two with the hopes of settling the tuning. Then I play a pentatonic (5-note) scale starting C3 upward…that would be c d e g a c; continuing to the top. Something about the pentatonic scale seems to cause slight variances in a unison to really stick out. After playing the pentatonic C scale, I then repeat the process with the F scale – f g a c d f…and the G scale – g a b d e g…and finally pick a black key and play all of them and you have the D flat (or C sharp for you purists) scale. For me, the pentatonic scales seem to really make any flaw in a unison stand out. Please do me a favor and try this method of testing unisons. If it works for you, let me know. I’m wondering if I am on to something here, or just suffering from a carbohydrate deficiency. So if it helps you clean up your unisons, email me at jhast@cox.net. Again, I wish you guys a prosperous year of tuning and I do hope to see you all soon.

Tim Hast, RPT
Edmond, Oklahoma

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Ben Davis would like to know who is doing refinishing work on pianos. Ben would also appreciate any suggestions or ideas for topics for future chapter meetings. If you are interested in presenting a technical at one of the meetings, please contact Ben.

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I think that most of you have seen the Steinway in our living room that has been rebuilt and has a red plate. The following article is a reprint from the October 1996 issue of The Gateway Tuner, the official newsletter of the St. Louis PTG chapter. Keith McGavern shared this tidbit with us this month. I find it interesting how we all see things from a different perspective.

Barbara Bonham, Editor

“HOT ROD” STEINWAY
Ed Pitt writes: “I saw my first (and hopefully last) “Hot Rod Steinway Rebuild” last week. I went with Russ David to Oklahoma City to play a party and the piano they brought in for him was a Steinway Model O which has been rebuilt and refinished. There was no decal on the fallboard, and when I opened the lid, I found the plate refinished in high gloss “Candy Apple Red” paint with the lettering on the plate outlined in silver. It was a sight to behold. They didn’t bother to put the serial and model on the plate either. The quality of the work was good, but I question the taste!

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REMEMBER TO ALWAYS REACH FOR THE BEST THAT IS WITHIN YOU.

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WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT:
Can you believe it’s already November and this year is almost over? Aren’t you glad you don’t have to be bombarded with negative political ads anymore? Looking back on this past year, particularly concerning our chapter, a lot of good things have happened; i.e. our seminar in March was successful, our chapter membership is growing, we’ve had some really good technicals at our meetings, and some fun social events as well. I think we have a GREAT PTG chapter. I hope we can continue to have the relaxed atmosphere at the meetings, and isn’t it wonderful that we seem to get along so well? Thanksgiving will be here in a few weeks, maybe this is something to ad to our “Thanks” list.

Bob Scheer, RPT
President

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THE LIGHTER SIDE OF THE BATTLE
Now that the race is over, you might as well laugh, rest your legs and relieve tension. Here are some of the funniest quotes from each side.

“People tell me that Senator Edwards got picked for his good looks, his sex appeal and his great hair. I say to them, “How do you think I got the job?”
Dick Cheney at the September 2004 Republican Convention

“I just want to assure you that both President Bush and I have very firm alibis.”
John Kerry after three Davenport, Iowa banks were robbed while Kerry and Bush were campaigning in the city at the same time.

“It really gets me when the critics say I haven’t done enough for the economy,” he said. “I mean, look what I’ve done for the book publishing industry. You’ve heard some of the titles. ‘Big Lies,’ ‘The Lies of George W. Bush’, ‘The Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them.’ I’d like to tell you I’ve read each of these books, but that’d be a lie.”
George Bush at the White House Correspondents Dinner

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TECH TIP:
For a loose grand hammer head that clicks, I use CA thin glue - just enough to seep in on both sides. After about a minute, there is no more loose hammer head. Certainly saves the process of removing the hammer head, cleaning/preparing the hole and shank, then re-gluing with wood glue and waiting for the drying process.
Keith McGavern, RPT
Shawnee, Oklahoma

SWOT FOR SUCCESS
I am currently taking a management course at Cameron University. One of the concepts that I have found helpful is a business analysis tool known as SWOT. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. One can apply this analysis to many aspects of one’s business activities. I have used it to analyze the layout and operations of my shop. I have encouraged the PTG Bylaws committee to use it in evaluating the proposals before us. To use a SWOT analysis is relatively easy. When considering an area of business simply ask the questions, “What are the strengths of this new (or existing) idea?” “What are the weaknesses of the proposed idea?” “What opportunities arise from this idea?” “What are the threats that could result from the implementation of this idea?”

In looking at my shop and its organization or lack thereof I asked the SWOT questions and decided that my shop had several strengths because of the diverse work I am able to product there. I also determined that one of my weaknesses was a lack of space. Some of that is built into the building size at my current location and some of it is from poor organization. My shop presents various opportunities for improvement and one of the threats of poor organization comes in lost time searching for disorganized tools and potential accidents from clutter. One of the most glaring threats and weaknesses I found was the lumber I had scattered throughout the shop with very little organization. This caused valuable floor space to be taken up, clutter from lack of central location and a potential for injury to both the customer’s pianos and myself from boards being knocked over. As a result I designed and built a lumber storage rack and placed it on a wall that was uncovered by moving some parts shelving to a new location. This accomplished two things. It got more of my parts in the same area of the shop and greatly improved my lumber storage situation.

A person can apply a SWOT analysis to any venture in business. If you are thinking about branching out to a new service area such as moving pianos or renting pianos, a thorough SWOT analysis can help you avoid some expensive pitfalls and allow you to streamline your plans for success. Small business owners are often so busy with day-to-day activities they neglect good planning time. Next time you see a fly give it a swat. Next time you have a business idea give it a SWOT!

Norman Cantrell, RPT
Lawton, Oklahoma
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES

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NEWSLETTER ARTICLES NEEDED
Please remember that contributions for the newsletter are needed each month and will be appreciated. If you would like to share a tech tip, an idea, a question, or write an article, please send them to Barbara Bonham. Email address is: barbbonham@cox.net. Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to this month’s newsletter.

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REMEMBER THAT HAPPINESS IS MORE OFTEN FOUND IN GIVING THAN RECEIVING.

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President – Bob Scheer
Vice President – Ben Davis
Secretary – Keith McGavern
Treasurer – Gary Bruce
Newsletter Editor – Barbara Bonham

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“All expression of opinion and all statements of supposed fact are published on the authority of the author as listed and are not to be regarded as expressing the view of this chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. unless such statements or opinions have been adopted by the chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.”