rust on piano hinges at pedals

[asianpianoer]

Where could this rust originate from if the piano has not been near the sea?
pedals maybe sweat but hinges?

and is it easy to remove?
help
i pretty much need to decide on a 2nd hand piano.... like in a few hours
thanks

[richard black]

There's always humidity in the air. Leave a bit of untreated iron or mild steel sitting around, untouched, for a few years and it will show some rust. No big deal. If it bothers you, you can remove it - most of it will come of on a strong cloth _very_ light moistened with paraffin or other solvent (you DO NOT want that stuff on the action though, so go easy!), if you scrub hard. If you want the hinges properly de-rusted you're better off removing them and cleaning them with a chemical rust remover. Car accessory shops can sell you something. Personally I would leave the rust there.