Counter bearing treatment

[Richard Moody]

 Jon, List
	I am not sure if the geometries of where the tuning pins have to be in a
grand piano are because of the need for counter bearing, or the cause of
it.  It might be that to have a grand action that up strikes strings means
the strings must be within  x amount in height from the action.  The
action can only be (or strike) so high vertically from the keys.  Thus to
fit a pinblock full of pins right above the action, the pin block might
have to occupy a higher level than the strings.  Or is it because agraffes
are used?  (I should look on the Ivers and Pond hulk I have).  If the pins
must be higher than the strings then you have problems of necessarey plate
structure to accomodate this. 
	I have often wondered why in grands the pins are highter than the strings
or why they could not be the same level as in uprights.   Perhaps my guess
above is close to the answer.   I used to spend hours on the telephone
with questions like these. I  heard talk about the "ski slope", but have
forgotten.  ---rici wonder

----------
> From: Jon Page <jonpage@mediaone.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Counter bearing treatment
> Date: Monday, January 10, 2000 7:23 PM
> 
> I recently restrung a Baldwin R and instead of recovering
> the tenor counter-bearing with felt, I replaced it with a half
> round bearing bent to the curve. Tuning is this area is much
> easier and there seems to be no adverse sympathetic
> vibrations. I am considering this replacement on another
> popular brand with a wide felt area in this location.
> 
> Aside from "tradition" and/or cosmetics is there a real reason
> for this application?
> 
> I think I read somewhere of the availability of hardened or rolled
> steel for this purpose. I just utilized a rod I had and fashioned a
> half-round suitable for the application.
> 
> My experience has been that felt in this area creates a considerable
> amount of friction, whereas a steel counter-bearing creates less.
> 
> What say you ,
> 
> 
> Jon Page,   piano technician
> Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
> mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~