Unusual Story & Clark

[Kit Cleworth]

I've been pretty happy lurking on this list, especially considering the
quality of information available here, but guess it's about time to come out
of the closet, so to speak.

I am probably the farthest north tech in the U.S. I live in Fairbanks,
Alaska and regularly service pianos all over the north part of the state,
including arctic coastal villages.  I am also the tech for the University of
Alaska music dept. here in Fairbanks.  I service the usual assortment of
pianos all the way from Steinway Ds to an endless number of cheap spinets;
also some unusual pianos including a Mason & Hamlin 9 foot screw stringer.

What really inspired me to post this is a very strange Story & Clark console
(#185976) encountered last week.  On the outside, a normal, pretty beat up
little piano.  The kind of piano I encounter alot, especially in homes with
small children.  After opening the top (which slides off) I thought I had
entered an alternate piano universe.  There were hammers with tails, like a
grand.  And grand-style backchecks acting directly on the hammer tails.  The
jacks were horizontal to the floor in their rest position.  The action was
screwed down only--there were no bolts to (or thru) the plate.  Needless to
say, there were a number of parts I've sure never seen in any APSCO or
Schaff catalog.

So, does anyone know anything about this?  I told my customer her piano was
pretty unusual, at least in my experience, and I would try to find out more
for her.  Any info would be helpful.  Thanks.

Kit Cleworth
Cleworth Piano Tuning & Repair
Fairbanks, Alaska
Kitster@Polarnet.com