Expert: Eileen Cronk - 3/9/2010

Question
I acquired a 1796 John Loud piano made in England left to me in a will. I have piano service and repair experience, and pulled the action, cleaned the interior and then set about servicing the action. The piano was restored in 1949 and serviced and I think restrung in 1977. The former owners were ignorant on pianos and bought it as a "pretty" antique. The first time they moved it across the carpet they broke two legs off. Then they moved from California to Connecticut and back, using Bekins to toss around the piano. I had to park the piano on a table, since by the time I got it four legs were broken off and it was leaning against the wall. To prevent my shop cat from adding even more scratches to the top, I placed a heavy wool blanket over it. My caring wife, noticing the cat sleeping there added a cat bed to the blanket. Evidently the warmth of a wet cat transferred to the piano finish, leaving a round, greenish black stain. I don't know if there is a sealer under the golden color the piano has, but I don't want to use anything that will penetrate through to the wood. I tried a smaller area (coffee cup stain) and had pretty good luck alternating rubbing with paint thinner, then rubbing it out, then TSP, rinsing it, and rubbing it out under forced air heat. My spot was still darker than the surrounding area, so it will require a new stain. do I dare apply bleach to the area to lighten it? Or should I try a commercial furniture cleaner like Formby's? I did use some baking soda on the small coffee stain, but it's fairly abrasive, and I don't want to unseal the wood.
Thanks for your time. My 1865 square grand is on hold while I finish this enough to get it back in the house.

Answer
Hi Richard
Nice to hear from you.
Oh my goodness keep the TSP away and the bleach right now.
You cannot bleach out a spot in that way. We do not bleach until all the finish is removed, and then the entire top is bleached. Not just the spots or you will have light areas.
Actually in my humble opinion, I feel this greenish black stain is wood damage.
If thats the case, the finish is compomised. There is no way the finish turns black or green.
Moisture must penetrate to the wood for this to happen so there is no way to remove it without stripping of all finish and bleaching.
Richard was this piano really made in 1796? If it was, there is no way I would mess with it without the advice of a professional restorer after he has had a hands on look.
Please seek out a restorer in your area to look at this irreplacable old piano.
I would sure like to hear his opinion.
Regards
Eileen