[CAUT] Tired wippens

[Willem Blees]

Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>:

> Thanks Willem,  Does that mean there are no longer that kind of
> wippen on 
> the market?
> 

The wippens are there. But I think a straight up and down capstan will 
work better. 

Wim 
 
> 
> 
> 
> Willem Blees <wblees at bama.ua.edu> 
> Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org
> 11/14/2006 02:04 PM
> Please respond to
> College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
> 
> 
> To
> College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
> cc
> 
> Subject
> Re: [CAUT] Tired wippens
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>:
> 
> > Hi List,
> > 
> > Here's an old question from a new CAUT:  When does one finally
> call
> > it 
> > quits on a set of wippens?  I'm working on an old Steinway M circa
> > early 
> > thirties with the tilted capstans.  I would doubt that the wippens
> > are 
> > original, but they are definately OLD, squeeky and has substantial
> > amounts 
> > of what Steve Brady calls "gradeau" (gunk) on the rep springs at
> the
> > 
> > rep-lever contact/rubbing points.  They also are "dented" in on
> the
> > rep 
> > lever/knuckle contact point.
> > 
> > Although it is only in a practice room, we don't have ooodles o
> dough
> > to 
> > replace the piano.  We can afford new wippens, or I can "doctor"
> them
> > one 
> > more time by cleaning and lubing all those parts which would be a
> lot
> > of 
> > invested time...Not much I can do about the dented rep/knuckle spot
> 
> > though....
> > 
> > What do y'all think?
> > 
> > Thanks
> > 
> > Paul T. Williams
> > Univ. of Nebraska
> 
> Paul
> 
> If you can get the money to replace them, by all means do so. But you
> 
> will also have to change the capstans. Perhaps that is why Richard 
> avoided doing that in the past. The other thing to consider is that
> if 
> you leave the piano alone, perhaps you can get the funds to replace 
> the piano. I've got a couple 30's vintage M's and O's that I would 
> love to throw out and replace. But I don't have any money, not even 
> for new parts, much less for new instruments. I keep hoping that if 
> enough students complain, somehow, someone up the line will hear my 
> plea. 
> 
> 
> Willem Blees, RPT
> Piano Tuner/Technician
> School of Music
> University of Alabama
> Tuscaloosa, AL USA
> 
> 
> 


Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA