Craftsmanship recommends: "Miracle in a Box"
This one-hour documentary film by the late, great John Korty explores the high-end craft of piano restoration, an unusually exacting—and increasingly endangered—craft.
Dear Friends,
Back in 2007, a trio of remarkable talents joined forces to create a documentary film that left an indelible mark on the world of music, and the world of craftsmanship.
Directed by the late John Korty, a cinematic pioneer who influenced George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, among others, the film, narrated by none other than award-winning actor John Lithgow, offers a one-hour, concentrated portrait of rare excellence. To capture this story, Korty spent two years following the intricate process of piano restoration, as practiced by the family-run Callahan Piano Service in Alameda, California. When finished, Korty named the story he found “Miracle in a Box.”
After debuting at the 2009 Mill Valley Film Festival, “Miracle in a Box” went on to earn accolades at various festivals around the U.S., then eventually faded into history. Yet its subject is more relevant today than ever, and very much in keeping with our current issue theme: The Art of Repair. So we are thrilled to give it a second life.
Without further ado, I heartily recommend watching John Korty’s “Miracle in a Box.” Our re-release includes a brief back story—on both the making of the documentary and the evolution of the piano—written by yours truly. I hope you’ll enjoy the film, and digging into the world of fine pianos, as much as I did.
Tell us your stories: You hear from us every week, and now we’d like to hear from you, our valued readers. Is there some item you’ve owned and loved forever because it’s still useful—and repairable? What wasteful purchase do you most regret? Share your Repair Rants & Raves with us in our new reader survey. It only takes a few minutes, and we’ll share the best stories throughout the rest of the issue. More details can be found on the survey itself, and below.
“The Art of Repair” will continue through November, thanks in part to our sponsor for this issue, the Culture of Repair. Each Friday, we’ll release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast that relates to our mission—to “create a world built to last.” So please, stay tuned.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause as you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Craftsmanship Magazine
Craftsmanship is a reader-supported publication. To help sustain our ad-free, independent journalism, please consider a paid subscription here on Substack.
Fall 2023: The Art of Repair
In a culture addicted to novelty and fast profits, the humble art of repair has declined almost to the point of extinction. But it’s not too late: In this issue, we’ll delve into the history of planned obsolescence, and the reemerging ethos of restoration. From the patient hands of watchmakers, piano restoration experts, and veteran appliance repairmen to the story of a young French woman who got her country to ban planned obsolescence, we’ll explore what it really means to create, maintain—and truly value—a world built to last.
This issue is supported in part by a grant from the Culture of Repair.
Interested in sponsoring an upcoming theme or project? Contact us at publisher@craftsmanship.net.
Our Readers Share Their “Repair Rants & Raves”
RAVE: "My 1947 Singer sewing machine. I bought it used about 40 years ago, really cheap, because it would not run and even when it did, it would not zig-zag. The motor sounded fine, and I was sure we could find parts. But as soon as I cleaned and oiled it, it ran beautifully. I learned to manage well without zig-zag, and I made everything from shoes to prom dresses with it. I still use it at least once most weeks, often every day. This is a dusty farm in a hot and humid climate, and as long as I keep it clean and oiled, it still works perfectly." - Anna S. (Jamestown, SC)
This issue is all about "The Art of Repair," and we want to hear about the belongings you love most for their usefulness, beauty, and longevity—and those you love to hate. We'll share the best entries throughout the issue. Submit your entry here.
Love audio stories? So do we…
Follow the Craftsmanship podcast for informative, entertaining audio versions of our most popular stories, along with special interviews with master artisans and other experts in craft. You can play or download these offerings directly from our website, on BuzzSprout, and on popular streaming services such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And there’s more to come! We have a fun new audio series in the works, so please, stay tuned.