Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright?

[Jim Dally]

Bill:  Like Joe I learned the hard way to find the groove in the clip for
securing the unit.  Thanks to this list I found the solution.
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe & Penny Goss <imatunr@primenet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 3:44 PM
Subject: Re: Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright?


> Hi Carl,
> Way  back I broke several of the (plates) when installing brass style
hammer
> thingees. It really fustrated me until I realized that to keep from
breaking
> the plate one needs to tighten the screw until it is just starting to get
> tight then back it off and wiggle the hammer assembly to find the groove
> in the rail. The screw can then be tightened fairly snug.  The exception
is
> when the hammer assembly has been repined and a large center pin used.
> That is why I rebush rather than repin on a brass rail.
> Joe Goss
> Message -----
> From: carl meyer <cmpiano@earthlink.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 8:54 AM
> Subject: Re: Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright?
>
>
> > Anytime you "work" brass or other metal and glass it becomes "work
> > hardened".  Since brass flanges are under stress for years it becomes
> > work hardened.  I spoke to a metal treating fellow that told me it
> > needed to be heated to 1200 degrees and cooled over several hours.  I'm
> > sure that is the ultimate and something less drastic would be of some
> > help.  I recently replaced all the small brass plates on a lester
> > upright, since some were broken.  I left the actual rail alone since it
> > was still all intact.  I made sure I didn't overtighten the screws.  I
> > think many are broken because the hammer shank wobbled because the pin
> > was loose and someone tried to fix it by overtightening the screw and
> > cracked the brass plate.
> >
> > Carl Meyer
> > Santa Clara, Ca.
> >
> > John Ross wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Bill,
> > > Have you tried the repair flange #517 in the Schaff catalogue, page
99.
> > > It appears that all you do is cut out the bad section of rail, and
> > > substitute
> > > however many of these you need.
> > > For the rail parts that are still good, I was at a class in Dearborn,
> where
> > > the rail was heated (annealed) to make it flexible again. I can't
> remember
> > > the temperature it had to be raised to. Maybe someone else on the list
> > >  has the particulars.
> > > Regards,
> > > John M. Ross
> > > Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: <BSimon999@AOL.COM>
> > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 11:49 AM
> > > Subject: Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright?
> > >
> > > > I am looking for some advice on solving a problem.
> > > >
> > > > A very nice poverty struck customer who with best intentions bought
a
> 1908
> > > > Lyon and Healy upright for a hundred dollars, "for the kid to earn
> on".
> > > >
> > > > I was called to tune it after the first 5 brass rail tabs broke off.
> The
> > > > action is the problem, the rest of the piano is remarkably good.
Brass
> > > rail
> > > > clips do not work well on this particular piano's brass rail
geometry,
> > > > raising the hammer butt over an eight of an inch. No normal repair
> flanges
> > > > fit to the screw hole and centerpin line. I have been removing the
> section
> > > of
> > > > brass rail of just a particular note and using Billings flanges
beaten
> > > flat
> > > > to repair it, but it is a clunky repair and is not that easy to do.
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone successfully  dealt with a Lyon and Healy having this
> problem?
> > > > (Out of curiosity only, is there a good source for brass rail
clips? )
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone ever removed the brass rail completely and replaced it
with
> > > wood
> > > > flanges.
> > > > If you did, what kind of time did it take? A certain amount of Pro
> Bono
> > > work
> > > > is usual for me,  but this one could get out of hand in a blink. My
> > > > preference is to find a physical solution for the action problem and
> show
> > > the
> > > > fellow how to do it himself, for he is very handy.
> > > >
> > > > Any advice? I hate for the piano to be lost for want of a flange
> solution.
> > > >
> > > > Thank You,
> > > > Bill Simon
> >