For years I've tuned a 1902 Kimball upright that was rebuilt by another tech about 15 years ago. The brass rail was left original with several repair clips affixed thereto but the owner was warned of subsequent finger breakage down the road. I wondered why the rail wasn't replaced when breakage was already obvious. What's another few hundred dollars to a successful dentist? The piano is a family heirloom and the case was nicely restored. Recently, yet another hammer came loose and I suggested that maybe now was the time to do the proper repair. They agreed and the action is now sitting in my shop with hammers and dampers removed, the brittle brass having been sent off to be duplicated. Thursday morning, 6 AM, I got a call from Kathy at Schaff. I was about to be enlightened. "Sorry, we do not duplicate double brass rails." Oh... At that time in the morning, I was at a loss for a response to that piece of information except to have her send them back. I've been toying since with the idea that I'll either make my own duplicates or search for a machinist who is willing. Anyone know of someone who is set up to do this kind of ticklish work? Schaff's machine duplicates single-sided only. BTW, the balance rail area of the keys is unusual in that the balance pins, which are held tightly in the keys, slip into felt bushed slots in a rail which hovers over the balance pins. And I have no idea how you square the keys. Tom -- Thomas A. Cole, RPT Santa Cruz, CA mailto:tcole@cruzio.com
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