Fischer Upright

[robert goodale]

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Hi there...

Fischers were generally considered higher quality pianos in their
day so you might have a little gem of sorts here.  It sounds like
the designers were following after the Steinway concept by having
no bushings.  In such cases this typically means the stresses are
focused elsewhere rather than the typical arrangement.  If it
were me I would avoid reaming the holes if at all possible.  If
so do it as little as you can.  If you do I would strongly
suggest removing the plate since even the slightest error in any
drill stop would go into the block.  If you feel ambitious enough
and the piano is a nice enough looking specimen you might want to
consider going all out and replacing the block.  This would allow
you to use the original size pines as originally conceived.

As far as Otto Higel player actions go, they were decent in their
day but a Standard could still run circles around them.  Of
course Standard along with their chief competitor, Simplex, could
out do just about anyone with the possible exception of
Gulbranson and Shultz.

I rebuilt a later Otto Higel action about ten years ago.  This
was the more common type with the huge valve chest with the
pouches being little unit pillow block thingys.  If the Metanola
action that you have is in good shape then indeed you have
something special.  The die cast material in those days rarely
lasted unless the material just happened to be a really good
batch.  If it has lasted this long I imagine it will last
forever.

I guess the word of the day is to just "go slow".

Good luck.

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV

Stephen Powell wrote:

>  Greetings List Piano: Fischer upright player (New York),
> 1917.  Looking at a rebuild, rewhatever.  Two questions:     1.
> There are no tuning pin bushings - the pins go through holes in
> the plate with very little clearance between the plate and the
> pins.  What is the usual procedure for restringing an
> arrangement like this?  I figure my options are to either ream
> the plate and install larger pins or, replace sections of
> pinblock behind the plate and string with the original size
> pins.  Has anyone out there ever reamed a plate to install
> bushings?  I'm curious to opinions on this one.     2. For the
> player techs: the action is an Otto Higel model K "metalnola".
> I have done a number of player rebuilds, but not one of these.
> I am aware that the die cast valve chambers can suffer from
> warping/cracking.  From the outside, the metal looks to be in
> amazing [good] condition.  Generally, what is the restorability
> of these actions.

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