June 23rd, 2008
In my sent box today
TO: Brass instrument repair shop I just found on google
SUBJECT: I hope you can help
Hello,
You are going to laugh at me for asking this, but here goes: is there a way to get a marble out of a bugle? The instrument belongs to my five year old, and he is in tears. He was trying to figure out how the bugle works/is put together… he says he thought the marble would roll around in there and help him figure out if the slide was a solid piece or not.
I’ve tried all kinds of crazy things to get it out, but it’s STUCK.
Any ideas would be great. We’re in Atlanta, so could bring it in tomorrow if you’re available. Thank you so much!
Tiffany
TO: Nice customer
SUBJECT: Update on your order
Hi Pamela - I’m embarrassed to say that my two year old decided to help me out. He scrawled all over the outside of the package with a sharpie as I was gathering up to go to the PO. Ugh! I have it all fixed up now, ready to go. And Sharpies further out of reach. So sorry for the delay… I’m refunding your shipping in just a sec.
Thank you, and I really apologize!
Tiffany
TO: Business contact who wants me to call him so we can talk about business
SUBJECT: Sorry I missed your call
Yes, hi! Sorry – Just got your message. It was chaos when you called, did not hear it ring. When and where would you like to meet? I can do almost any day this week. Mornings would be best, unless you want my kids in the middle of it, which I promise you don’t.
Talk to you soon,
Tiffany
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
There is never, ever a dull moment in the Ard household.
Let us know how the bugle/marble situation works out.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:23 am
A mangled horn is actually repaired by smacking steel balls of various diameter into it. I’m not really sure how I know this, but I don’t really know how I learned to repair violins either. I hope he isn’t overly upset, the bugle should be just fine. Sharpie markers make great war paint too.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Post Script … Repair costs are often related to the amount of parental repair effort, number of parental repair attempts, and the number of designer anythings the customer wears to the shop. So, no Gucci or Prada mananna.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Yikes on the marble! (Bearing in mind I am a former French horn player, not a bugle player. grain of salt, blah blah blah.) Depending on where it’s stuck, they should be able to get it out by taking the slide out or the valves (they should unscrew fairly easily) and poking it from the other side with a cleaning snake brush (this is not what this is called for real, I don’t think, but it’s a long skinny springy thing with bristles on both ends). Actually, you might be able to do that if you have the snake brush (generally available where horns are sold). Good luck with it.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Oy. Being a mama is hard work. Not as hard work as being a kid, perhaps. Ah, forget it, who am I kidding, it’s totally harder to be the mama.
And, I’m sorry, Daddio… sharpies as war paint? Are you in charge of bath time? Holiday photos? That’s a holiday card I’d like to see.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Would warming the bugle gently help? Seems like either cooling or warming the metal might free the marble. Please report back!