Stephen, I hope the following will put your mind at ease. I'll make a few assumptions and hope they are accurate. Your Bechstein was built around 1902 and you mentioned that the tuning pins feel good and only a couple of strings have been replaced. My big assumption is that the tuning pins are the original size. If they are, you will be happy to know that Bechstein's original pin size is 6.75mm in diameter and 55mm long, which is quite a bit smaller than what we here in the USA consider factory-new tuning pin size. Our "original equipment" #2 (or 00 or two-ought) pins measure around 7.15mm. Possible replacement sizes, listed in both the Jahn and Renner catalogs, are 6.90, 7.00 and 7.10mm all of which are still smaller than what _could_ still be considered factory-new size (just a different factory!). In addition, all those sizes are available in lengths 55, 57, 60 and 64mm. You would have to double check the pins in your particular piano to confirm the existing size, both diameter and length. Another thing, I think the old pinblocks may not have been drilled all the way through. The "old timers" I worked with at the Bechstein factory in Berlin mentioned that it should not hurt anything to drill completely through the block when carefully drilling (we use a normal drill bit, not a spoon-bitted reamer) each hole for the new pin. I would consider drilling with 6.8 and pinning with 6.90 or 7.00 (your choice of length), having both sizes on hand and going completely by tuning pin feel on several tests. Original Bechstein procedure calls for dipping each tuning pin threaded area in powdered rosin before installation. My information comes from being the factory stringer about 20 years ago, but should still cover your vintage of piano. I couldn't say for sure about the modern procedures at the Bechstein factory. Guess I'll have to make a business trip to Germany to find out, eh? Bonus, un-asked-for advice: if you are going to replace the hammers, don't forget that, if the agraffes go all the way up to the top, the hammers are drilled not at 90 degrees, but 91 degrees (tilted away from the plate-pinblock-agraffes) so that the top treble hammers do not hit the plate into which the agraffes are installed up there where space is close. I hope this will help you to avoid unneeded major work, will keep your estimate cost down and that you get the job. Best regards, Joel Rappaport Round Rock, Texas Stephen Powell wrote [edited]: > > I came across a 6'6" Bechstein of this vintage (#63955) in a > local hall a few weeks back......The > piano is in very good condition really; there are no plate cracks, and the > soundboard seems excellent with good down-bearing. One bass sting and one > high treble string has been replaced. The tuning pin tightness is adequate > to keep the piano in tune and (I think) even throughout the block. IMO the > piano is due to be restrung with new hammers etc. > > Should I resting with oversize pins or install > a `floating' block? Or, should I prepare myself to the max and follow > Bob's procedure? My dilemma is that if I report to the council that I'm > not equipped to do this work, another tech will come in and resting with > oversize pins anyway! (I think the chances of this happening are quite > high). And I don't want to risk losing my council work. >
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