[CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes

[Cramer, Mark]

Hi Don,

you didn't mention the string angle being overly steep like some Masons, however, if you've tried lifting on both sides on the agraffe, (including pressure on the front string segment while sounding the note), then re-centering the agraffe is likely your next step.  

The reamers sold by Pianotek aren't as elegant as the Paul Revenko-Jones' method, however, if hole-centering is the problem, they will work just fine.

The best low-tech method we've found is to use a cordless drill with a variable clutch, at the lowest setting. 

Cut a slot in a peice of scrap the thickness of the agraffe's "base" (table, seat, etc.)to help hold the agraffe firmly and flat, when you place it on it's side to drill. 

Have your assistant practice on a few "spares" first. (Scott was sure he could do this on the drill press, and I'm twice his age, so what did I know ?! ;>)

best regards,
Mark Cramer,
Brandon University







-----Original Message-----
From: Donald McKechnie <dmckech at ithaca.edu>
To: caut at ptg.org
Date: Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:41:54 -0500
Subject: [CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes

Happy New Year List!

A relatively new private customer of mine has a M&H A from the 1920's  
and it exhibits some unpleasant buzzing sounds in the tenor section.  
Some notes are worse than others. I have tried several times to  
lessen the problem but it is never to the complete satisfaction of  
the owner. (BTW, I'm the second technician she has employed to deal  
with this piano. The first gladly turned this over to me :-) Things I  
have tried included various hammer voicing techniques that deal with  
buzzing strings (I would like to see this particular set of hammers  
replaced but I do not think they are the problem), manipulating the  
strings in the front and back of the agraffe and installing string  
couplers on the strings at the front side of the agraffe. The only  
thing that has lessened the buzzing is the couplers but the problem  
tends to come back some time after installation. I've tried adding  
more couples and placing them in different positions but this is  
never enough for the customer at some point after my visit.

 From my experience with Steinways that have similar problems, this  
buzzing will be solved with replacing the agraffes. Yes, I understand  
one can recondition agraffes to be like new in some cases but I  
mostly prefer to replace with new. I believe the agraffes on this M&H  
need to be replaced to solve this problem. I have a S&S B in the shop  
now that exhibits pretty much the same problem. Michelle and I  
replaced one of the worst agraffes and restrung with new wire.  
Problem solved. I plan to show this piano to my customer.

I have never replaced agraffes on a M&H. So, any help from  
experienced M&H folks is greatly appreciated. I have heard from some  
local technicians that this can be very problematic. Is it true that  
these agraffes may have odd sized threaded stems and are not  
available? Will I experience any problems trying to unscrew them?  
Given that they do not look too bad, can I expect these to  
recondition like new? I have some reamers that Chris Robinson was  
recommending some years back. These look like good tools to do the  
reconditioning job. Any other reamers you recommend? I have not  
looked for the Journal that dealt with all things agraffe but plan to  
do so tomorrow. Anyone know off hand what month and year that was?

Thanks much for any comments and suggestions.

Don



Don McKechnie
Piano Technician
Ithaca College
dmckech at ithaca.edu
607.274.3908