European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Dale Johnson and Daron Anderson tackle a couple of Bent broken or otherwise ailing instruments in their sunlit shop in Griesheim. the children play a a a continued from cover they can fix anything from a Piccolo to a tuba. According to shop manager and technician Ken Cance the Mirts repaired More than 1,700 woodwind instruments brass and percussion pieces in 1990, with about 95 percent of those coming from schools in Germany. Quot we can take an instrument in and return either the same instrument or a replacement in less than a week Quot Cance says. The facility also operates a Mobile repair truck that can go on the Road for on site repairs. Soft spoken Dale Johnson spends his Days quietly fixing instruments that have seen pretty Tough treatment at the hands of students. He fills his nights blowing one of his two favorite instr Nientsu Bassoon or the saxophone with a local band of germans. 1 Lis work Center is an orderly clutter of his. Trades implements a tiny pincers for working on delicate wind instruments pliers and scraps of sandpaper to make a Bassoon s joints fit like new a nearby Gas Torch quietly hisses under a gentle background of classical music from a radio per died in the Corner. On the other Side of Dales Bench his partner Daron Anderson also a saxophonist tries out a Johnson solders a saxophones broken Brace. Repaired mouthpiece for a Tenor sax. Soon the soft sounds of the radio Are drowned out by the unforgettable theme music to what was that show a my three sons a Dale winces. Quot its Hisa favorite a a says Daron. Its a tune that comes with a laugh from whoever drags it from a repaired instrument and it underscores the Eusy relationship of these Mirts. They share w hat May tie one of the last truly rewarding craftsman a trades a the careful repair Otan instrument that can bring Joy and music to a a Young persons life
