Weaver/York pianos

[Clyde Hollinger]

Dick Powell wrote:
> 
> Some time ago I purchased an old 1939 York spinet made by The Weaver
> Piano Co.  It is not a drop action, but attached to the back of the key
> is  " I call it a J- hook that goes up under the whippen. This J is how
> you adjust the lost motion. 

Schaff has this part in their catalog and refers to it as Weaver
bi-level rocker arm.  Not everyone knows this.  One of the several I
service has a rocker arm whittled out of wood!

Also when the piano is closed up it looks
> kind of like a dining table, one guy said they were called coffin pianos.
> I talked to the men in our chapter & none of them had ever see one as far
> as they could remember. Also the pedals on it is a lyre system sort of
> like a grand & not like a verticle piano.
> If anyone out there knows any thing about or has seen one of these pianos
> please let me know. Is it a rare & valuable old piano , or just an old
> weird piano?
> Also because of the big j shaped hooks attached to the keys , the action
> is quite sluggish.
> Thanks for any info.
> Dick Powell--------Louisiana
> 
Since I live only one county from where these pianos were manufactured
we have more of them around here, but still not many.  I service maybe
three or four, which can carry either the Weaver or York names.  None of
them has sluggish action, as far as I can remember, which causes me to
suspect that the problem is due to something else.  They might be
somewhat rare, but I doubt they are valuable; I wouldn't buy one. 
Adjusting lost motion can be pretty ticklish.  Dick Kreitz of our
chapter used to work in the Weaver piano factory.  He just celebrated 50
years of piano service last year.  If you're really interested and you
can catch him at home, he might be able to give you some history.

Clyde Hollinger, RPT
Lititz, PA