[CAUT] [pianotech] Baldwin Accujust

Fred Sturm fssturm at unm.edu
Thu Jun 11 16:46:57 MDT 2009


Yep.
 From instructions below:
>> "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.)"

	I just completed stringing and setting DB on an L a couple hours ago.  
I found it easier than anticipated, that I was able to do very  
controlled tapping down and needed next to no lifting of strings. That  
meant starting with all strings high, which I accomplished while  
stringing by having a spacer beneath and spring clamp above each  
string when installed, the spacer being large enough to create  
negative DB. (And moved the spacer on to the next hitch pin). I found  
that using a 16 oz claw hammer, lightly tapping, I got excellent  
control on how far down the string moved.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Jun 11, 2009, at 3:37 PM, Bob Hull wrote:

>
> Are these directions saying to bring all treble strings up to 440  
> and adjust string ht. and measure with the lowell gauge before  
> putting the bass strings on?  You obviously can't measure with the  
> gauge on the tenor area with the bass strings in the way.
>
> Bob Hull
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Alan McCoy <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu>
> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 11:52:15 AM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] [pianotech] Baldwin Accujust
>
> 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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