IN TUNE!
Newsletter of the Piano Technicians Guild, San Francisco Chapter
Calendar of Events
September Chapter Meeting
Business Meeting
Date:
Time:
Location:
Tuesday, October 7
7:00 PM
JB Piano
540 Irwin St
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-456-9280
Technical
Movie Night
Presentation:
We will have two or three
options for what we will watch
and will take a quick vote as a
group to make that decision.
If you have any suggestions or
requests please email Louis
del Bene at
[email protected].
If you can provide the DVD
that would be helpful.
October 2104
President's Message
David Abdalian, RPT
Last month we left James Lick as a piano
manufacturer in New York City. In 1821,
James Lick now 25, learned that his pianos
were being exported to South America. Still
thinking that he could quickly build his fortune
to win the hand of his beloved Barbara, who
was now raising his 4 year old son alone, he
moved south. He took his work bench and
piano making tools to his first workshop in
Buenos Aires, Argentina where his honesty
and fine craftsmanship soon earned him a
great reputation in the piano business.
Argentina, at this time was in turmoil, with
constant uprisings, revolutions, economic
disruptions, basically like today. Lick, not
speaking the Spanish, in ill health, and having
to observe the bloody battles going on wrote
his father, in 1825, that he was "one minute in
the clouds of heaven and the next in the
depths of the sea and death always before my
eyes in ten thousand forms. This is far from
peaceful living", he continued, "and I would not
wish it on my worst enemy."
His piano business prospered, with multiple
employees, in spite of all this so much so that
in that same year he left for a 12 month tour of
Europe. The average person at this time could
not have done this unless they had significant
wealth.
He returned in 1826, but ended up captured
and imprisoned as a POW in present day
Uruguay. He escaped on foot to find his piano
SF PTG Newsletter
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business in distress and had to rebuild it to
its former prosperity.
Old Business
None was discussed.
By 1832, having accumulated enough wealth
$40,000 ($920,000 in 2014 dollars) to make
the long hoped-for trip back to Stumpstown,
to claim the his waiting bride. Lick saw
neither his would-be bride nor his son. On
hearing of her old lover's imminent return,
Barbara, who had married another man in
1820, had taken their son, John, now 15 and
left Stumpstown.
New Business
None was discussed.
Announcements
If anyone has or knows of any SF chapter
papers, records, archives, etc. please let
David Abdalian know.
Next month: Chocolate and piano making in
San Francisco...
From Israel:
A heads-up about an agenda item for the
next two meetings. At the October
meeting we would need to elect a budget
committee - that is, two more committee
members besides the treasurer - to put
together a 2015 proposed chapter budget
to be presented to the Chapter for approval
at the November meeting. This actually
should have been dealt with at the
September meeting - but a business meeting
did not happen before I had to leave, so I
couldn't bring it up.
We could still elect (yes, that's what
the bylaws mandate - elect) a committee
in October and a budget could be
presented to the chapter for approval in
November. Since there is no business
meeting in December, we really shouldn't
go into 2015 without a budget.
Chapter Meeting Minutes
John Swensen, Chapter Secretary
The chapter meeting convened at 7:24pm at
St. Anne's Church in San Francisco,
California. Although the quorum was met,
neither the President nor the Vice President
were present at the start of the meeting, so
no business meeting was held.
Instead, we immediately started the technical
session, presented by Isaac Sadigursky, who
gave one of his entertaining 6-packs. Among
the many tips were:
Use Crayola Washable School Glue bottles
for holding other glues;
Cut a notch at the end of needle-nose pliers
to hold wire loops more securely;
Treasurer's Report
Taper drill bits to safely enlarge holes and to
clean out old bushing materials from holes;
Copy Yamaha's pitman dowel design (pins on
both ends, holes in the trap lever and damper
tray, felt blocks with tight holes for the pins on
lever and tray).
October 2014 SF PTG Newsletter
Secretary's Report
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RPT Exam Pre-screening
Any associate getting ready to take an RPT
exam (technical or tuning) is strongly
encouraged to get "pre-screened.” This is an
opportunity to have an experienced
RPT assess your skill and make a
recommendation regarding your chances of
success. You can make arrangements with
any RPT who is willing to pre-screen you,
who you feel comfortable working with and
who is familiar with the current version of the
exam for which you are preparing.
PTG Code of Ethics
PTG CODE OF ETHICS
In order to promote the highest
standards of professional conduct of
Piano Technicians Guild members, and to
foster a relationship of trust between
PTG members and their clients, this Code
of Ethics constitutes the standards for
which each member will be held
accountable, and to which each member
agrees upon joining PTG.
1.I will act honorably and in a
professional manner.
2.I will uphold the principles of
honesty and integrity for which the
Piano Technicians Guild stands.
3.I will represent my education,
training, experience and area of
expertise honestly and accurately.
4.I will uphold the Mission, Objectives
and Principles of the Piano Technicians
Guild.
keeping the best interests of my client
in mind.
6.I will strive to upgrade my
professional skills and I will encourage
and help others to do the same.
7.I will use the name and trademarks of
the Piano Technicians Guild properly and
will encourage others to do the same.
8.I will promote good will towards my
profession and towards the music industry.
9.I will engage only in business
practices that are in accord with the
antitrust guidelines as set forth by the
Piano Technicians Guild.
Chapter Library
The San Francisco PTG Chapter's Library
contains many books, manuals, tapes,
videos and other materials useful to both
experienced piano technicians and those
learning the trade. A list of library contents
can be found on the chapter website at
<www.sfptg.org>.
Only chapter members may borrow library
materials. To arrange for a loan, contact
Israel Stein at 510-558-0777 or
<[email protected]>. Materials can be
picked up from or returned to Israel by prior
arrangement only at Israel's home in Albany,
at San Francisco State University or at
chapter meetings.
5.I will render the best possible
service, under the circumstances, always
October 2014 SF PTG Newsletter
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Chapter Officers
President
David Abdalian, RPT
925.460.3211
[email protected]
Vice President
Louis del Bene, RPT
707.595.0349
[email protected]
Treasurer & Librarian
Israel Stein, RPT
510.558.0777
[email protected]
Secretary
John Swensen, Associate
925.413.9433
[email protected]
October 2014 SF PTG Newsletter
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IN TUNE! is a monthly publication of the Piano Technicians
Guild
- San Francisco Chapter. It is distributed free of charge via
email
or in paper for $15/year to non-members without e-mail.
E-mail addresses have a way of changing frequently. When
such changes occur, please send them to us at
[email protected] so we can stay up to date. It is
important
that we be able to reach you. Thanks!
Deadline for newsletter submissions is 12 DAYS before the
first
Tuesday of the month. The newsletter will usually be
distributed
10 days before the upcoming Chapter Meeting. The
Newsletter
Editor reserves the right to edit article submissions for clarity
and
length.
Classified ad listings are available to chapter members for
free.
The following schedule is available to anyone wishing to run
a
separate ad in the newsletter (prices are for 12 months):
• 1/8 page ad - $60
• 1/4 page ad - $108
• 1/2 page ad - $204
Chapter website: www.sfptg.org .Send suggestions, literary
contributions, or advertisements to the secretary or
webmaster.
Disclaimer: All expressions 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
the
Chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc., unless such
statements or opinions have been adopted by the Chapter
or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.
Classified Ads
Contact the newsletter editor to add or remove listings
Piedmont Piano Company
Jim Callahan, RPT, owner
For over 33 years offering the finest new and used pianos.
Authorized dealer for new Yamaha, Mason & Hamlin,
Bluthner,
Bechstein, and Fazioli pianos. Fine used pianos from the
world's
great makers, specializing in vintage Steinways. We stock
the
largest selection of used grand pianos in Northern California.
As many SF chapter members know, we have worked for
years with
PTG members and their customers to provide the finest
instruments
at the most reasonable prices.
Located at 1728 San Pablo Ave. in Oakland 510-547-8188
For more information please visit our website
www.piedmontpiano.com or e mail:
October 2014 SF PTG Newsletter
[email protected]

A recording from Shawn Skylark: "Still Life - 10 Pieces For
Solo
Piano". This is a collection of original piano pieces, which
are
released on CD. (available at CD Baby, iTunes, and
shawnskylark.com).
It was recorded on a Bösendorfer 225. Bösendorfer
informed
Shawn that they have added it to their online Music Library
which is
part of their web site at Boesendorfer.com.

AUTHOR: JS BACH
ORDER FROM http://www.frankfrench.name/discs.html
PUBLISHER: Alpenglo
ISBN: 826816121025
J.S Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier 48 Preludes and
Fugues
played in Thomas Young's Well-Temperament of 1799 by
Frank
French
For the first time the Well-Tempered Clavier can be heard in
the
explicitly-stated, 18th Century well temperament that allows
the
characteristic of each major and minor key to emerge as
intended
during the time of the composer. A subtle but certain
difference is
apparent when this music is played in this authentic tuning.
This
four-CD set contains more than four hours of music with
liner notes
on the history and development of tuning keyboard
instruments by
Owen Jorgensen with French, Spanish and German
language texts.
This production, more than two years in the making, was
expertly
recorded using a Boesendorfer 225 concert piano.
* Reviewer from England author: Nigel Taylor I have to say
that I am
delighted with musical experience of listening to the W.T.C.
played in
Thomas Young's temperament. Thank you for such an
excellent
recording. The differing key characters are obvious, and the
W.T.C.
sounds so much more musical and expressive than when all
the
keys sound the same! Nigel Taylor
IN TUNE!
5
Piano Technicians Guild – SF Chapter
c/o John Swensen
7565 Peppertree Road
Dublin, CA 94568
ADDRESS CORRECTION
REQUESTED
If you received this by US Mail and have an
e-mail address, you can save your PTG
Chapter’s money by electing e-mail delivery
instead. Please contact John Swensen to
make this change.
October 2014 SF PTG Newsletter
IN TUNE!
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