[CAUT] [pianotech] Baldwin Accujust

Alan McCoy amccoy at mail.ewu.edu
Mon Apr 27 09:52:15 PDT 2009


Ron,

Thanks for supplying this information. Much appreciated.

Alan McCoy


> From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:10:05 -0500
> To: Pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>, "College and University Technicians
> <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] [pianotech] Baldwin Accujust
> 
> Scott Rogers wrote:
>> I have a Baldwin L to restring, and I can't remember what steps are
>> necessary to setting proper down bearing with the accu-just hitch pins.
>> I know Baldwin used to loan out a downbearing gauge for setting DB on
>> each unison. Does anyone know if they still offer this, and if so
>> contact #'s?
>> Thanks for your help.
>> Scott Rogers, RPT
> 
> Bearing1.txt is from a Baldwin tech sheet, direct from the source.
> Bearing4.txt is a conversion chart to relate the instructions
> in bearing1 to degrees, so you can use a Lowell gage, Wixey,
> or whatever, instead of Baldwin's gage.
> 
> Ron N
> 
>    Bubble reading to Degrees to Bearing Load conversion
>    for Lowell and Baldwin downbearing gauges.
> 
>    Measure bubble offset difference between string segments
>    on both sides of the bridge. Look up angle and bearing factor
>    on appropriate chart. For bearing load in pounds, multiply
>    bearing factor times string tension.
> 
>    Ron Nossaman July, 1997
> 
>         Baldwin Gauge            |        Lowell Gauge
>    ------------------------------|-----------------------------
>      Bubble Degrees   Bearing    |     Bubble Degrees   Bearing
>    ------------------------------|-----------------------------
>      0.5    0.14167   0.0025     |     0.5    0.08333   0.0015
>      1.0    0.28333   0.005      |     1.0    0.16667   0.003
>      1.5    0.42499   0.0075     |     1.5    0.25      0.0045
>      2.0    0.56666   0.01       |     2.0    0.33333   0.006
>      2.5    0.70832   0.0125     |     2.5    0.41667   0.0075
>      3.0    0.84999   0.015      |     3.0    0.5       0.009
>      3.5    0.99165   0.0175     |     3.5    0.58333   0.0105
>      4.0    1.13332   0.02       |     4.0    0.66667   0.012
>      4.5    1.27499   0.0225     |     4.5    0.75      0.0135
>      5.0    1.41665   0.025      |     5.0    0.83333   0.015
>      5.5    1.55832   0.0275     |     5.5    0.91667   0.0165
>      6.0    1.69998   0.03       |     6.0    1.        0.018
>      6.5    1.84165   0.0325     |     6.5    1.08333   0.0195
>      7.0    1.98331   0.035      |     7.0    1.16667   0.021
>      7.5    2.12497   0.0375     |     7.5    1.25      0.0225
>      8.0    2.26664   0.04       |     8.0    1.33333   0.024
>      8.5    2.40831   0.0425     |     8.5    1.41667   0.0255
>      9.0    2.54997   0.045      |     9.0    1.5       0.027
>      9.5    2.69163   0.0475     |     9.5    1.58333   0.0285
>      10.0   2.8333    0.05       |     10.0   1.66667   0.03
>      10.5   2.97497   0.0525     |     10.5   1.75      0.0315
>      11.0   3.11663   0.055      |     11.0   1.83333   0.033
>      11.5   3.25829   0.0575     |     11.5   1.91667   0.0345
>      12.0   3.39996   0.06       |     12.0   2.        0.036
>      12.5   3.54163   0.0625     |     12.5   2.08333   0.0375
>      13.0   3.68329   0.065      |     13.0   2.16667   0.039
>      13.5   3.82496   0.0675     |     13.5   2.25      0.0405
>      14.0   3.96662   0.07       |     14.0   2.33333   0.042
>      14.5   4.10829   0.0725     |     14.5   2.41667   0.0435
>      15.0   4.24995   0.075      |     15.0   2.5       0.045
>      15.5   4.39162   0.0775     |     15.5   2.58333   0.0465
>      16.0   4.53328   0.08       |     16.0   2.66667   0.048
> 1-29-1997        
> TS039D 
> 
> PROCEDURE TO ESTABLISH PROPER DOWN BEARING OF STRINGS ON BRIDGES OF BALDWIN
> GRAND  PIANOS DESLGNED WITH HOLLOW VERTICAL (ACU-JUST) HITCH PINS
> 
> These conditions must exist before bearing can be established:
> 
> 1.All strings associated with the treble bridge must be in place,  (Bass
> strings to be installed later.)
> 
> 2.  These strings must be tuned to A-440 pitch.
> 
> 3.  All strings on the treble bridge must be set at proper height on their
> hitch pins to read zero (0.0) bearing at the bridge.  Follow this procedure;
> begin at treble end of treble bridge with note #88 and work toward bass.  Lift
> wire and raise tension of the strings on the first ten (10) notes,  Then raise
> wire and adjust tension of the next ten (10) notes and proceed on until all
> wire is adjusted in this manner on the treble bridge.
> 
> Procedure for string height adjustment.
> 
> 1.  Become familiar with bubble gage adjustments and application as shown with
> the attached illustrations,
> 2.  With strings at normal tension, begin with strings at the bass end of the
> treble bridge and work toward the middle,  Set bearing values as shown in the
> following chart on specified notes only.  Tap the string down by placing the
> tool over the hitch pin, resting on the wire,  with the bubble gage held onto
> proper strings with the magnet built into its base, tap the setting tool with
> a small hammer to lower the string to achieve a proper bubble gage reading.
> If the string is too low, raise the string, using a coil lifter and leather or
> felt to protect the plate finish.
> 
> Scale                      SA(5'2")    ST(5'8")    SC(6'3'')    SF10(7'0")
> SD10(9'0'') 
> Notes to be set            27-44       27-43       23-40        21-39
> 21-35 
> Bubble Deflection          1 divis.    1 divis.    1 divis.     1 divis.
> 1 divis.  
> 
> 3.  After strings associated with the notes which were adjusted in the
> preceding operation have been set, proceed on with notes listed in the
> following charts.
> 
> Scale                      SA(5' 2")   ST(5'8")    SC(6'3'')    SF10(7'0")
> SD10(9'0") 
> Notes to be set            45-53       44-53       41-53        40-53
> 36-53
> Bubble Deflection          2 divis.    2 divis.    2 divis.     2 divis.
> 2 divis.
> 
> Scale                      SA(5'2")    ST(5'8")    SC(6'3")     SF10(7'0")
> SD10(9'0") 
> Notes to be set            54-88       54-88       54-88        54-88
> 54-88
> Bubble Deflection          3 divis.    3 divis.    3 divis.     3 divis.
> 3 divis.
> 
> 4,  Install bass strings and set at zero bearing,  Then adjust bearing
> according to the following chart.
> 
> Scale                      SA(5'2")    ST(5'8")    SC(6'3")     SF10(7'0")
> SD10(9'0") 
> Notes to be set            1-26        1-26        1-20         1-20
> 1-20
> Bubble Deflection          1 divis.    1 divis.    1 divis.     1 divis.
> 1 divis 
> 
> 5.   Retune piano to A-440 pitch.
> 
> CONCLUSION:
> 
> 1. Bearing adjustments should only be made when the piano is maintained under
> proper climatic conditions.  (Humidity 35% - 45% with temperature 70 - 75)
> 
> 2. The procedure and bearing gage must be applied in the order established.
> 
> 3. A bearing value, previously set, cannot be rechecked because the
> accumulated force of all strings on the bridges will lower the soundboard and
> reduce the settings which were originally set.
> 
> 4. Pianos equipped with the vertical (Acu-Just) hitch pins are designed to
> function with a minimum positive bearing at the bridges, compared with other
> pianos with string rests and angled hitch pins.
> 
> *Hand written note at bottom: 1 div. = .005" shim thickness with a Baldwin
> Rocker Gage.





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