I definately would let the tension down over the whole piano before removing the bass strings on a piano that old. Although I haven't seen Bl=FCthners with cracked plates only two Becksteins, I'd still be leary. Look for something on the sound board or loose ribs or loose board at the= rim. Screws, sound board buttons, string terminations, hinges, venetian blinds, base board heat, chandeliers all can appear to eminate from the piano. A wedge in the crack (as Ed suggested) is a good start.=20 At 04:23 PM 3/18/97 -0500, you wrote: >Well, Steve, I have to admit that on occasion I've removed all the >bass stings at one time from a piano without lowering the pitch >first and never run into a problem other than the tuning getting >thrown badly out of whack. HOWEVER, I've never done it on a piano >that was 112 years old! Also I'd hate see a subsequent post of yours, >inquiring of the whereabouts of another 1885 Bluthner plate! Sorry >I can't be more helpful > >Les Smith >lessmith@buffnet.net > >On Tue, 18 Mar 1997, Stephen Birkett wrote: > >> I recently completed work on an 1885 Bluethner, which was actually pretty >> modern by comparison with what I would normally work on. The main job to >> be done was restoration of the original Bluethner action...an interesting >> task, since many parts had to be re-fabricated. Anyway that job is >> finished.=20 >>=20 >> I would like a little advice on a problem that has developed with this >> piano, that is essentially a "modern" piano problem...and beyond my >> experience. An unpleasant and short-lived rattle/buzz that has developed >> with mf or louder on three tenor notes. There are also two cracks that= run >> right through the bass bridge apron, maybe a mm wide in places...the= riser >> and bridge appear to be intact, but the apron is cracked right through. I >> think the cracks are probably the cause of the rattle, but, before= tearing >> into removing the bridge and repairing it, I'd like some comments from= you >> experienced modern piano guys if this is likely to be correct. I normally >> work with pianos that have no iron, let alone a plate, so I would also >> like to confirm that it is safe to remove all the bass strings at the= same >> time, without causing damage to the plate.=20 >>=20 >> Thanks for any advice. >>=20 >> Stephen Birkett >>=20 >> Stephen Birkett Fortepianos >> Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos >> 464 Winchester Drive >> Waterloo, Ontario >> Canada N2T 1K5 >> tel: 519-885-2228 >> email: sbirkett@uoguelph.ca >>=20 >>=20 > > > Jon Page Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ =09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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