Stumped

[Tony Caught]

Hi Paul,

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but try this one.

Two pins at top of action posts. There should be three or four screws
through the balance rail into the key bed. There may also be screws in the
key front bar.

Looking at the top of the keys you should find slotted screw head marks.

I have also found that is some pianos the back touch rail has also been
screwed down at both ends.  Reason is that when the una corda pedal is
activated the initial pressure is upward on the action post.

Alternate is that these screw points generally line up with the keybed cross
pieces (back to front), locate them from the underside of the keyboard then
lift the keys up from the top at that position to find screws.

The action and keybed are one piece, the action posts are dowelled and
screwed to the keybed from the under side

Failing all above the only answer is to take all the keys out and inspect
for the screws.
In removing and replacing the keys the stickers should come out of the holes
at the back of the keys with a piece of felt on the bottom, in the bottom of
the hole is a screw for adjusting the sticker height (same as key capstain)
I have always found it easier to (when replacing the key) put the sticker
into the hole before placing the key back onto the key frame.

Adjusting the sticker screws must be done in the piano with the key frame
locked down.

Have Fun

Tony Caught ICPTG
Australia
caute@optusnet.com.au
----- Original Message -----
From: <larudee@pacbell.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2000 3:57 AM
Subject: Re: Stumped


> Newton,
>
> Yes, the pins at the top of the action posts testify that they intended
> to make action removal reasonably easy.  I didn't have time to look
> under all the key fronts.  There is a small sticker attached to the
> wippens which goes into sockets in the keys and makes key removal and
> reinsertion somewhat more cumbersome.  (The stickers pivot sideways as
> well as front to back because the hammer assembly shifts with the una
> corda, but not the keys.)  I looked for buttons, dowels and plugs
> (none).  Next time I'll check under the rest of the key fronts, but
> there was nothing going sideways into the key blocks and nothing at the
> back of the blocks either.  As far as I could tell there was nothing
> under the key bed, but there has to be something somewhere, right?  The
> whole case, keyblocks and keyslip are covered in a beautiful walnut
> marquetry veneer, so I didn't want to force anything too much.  The odd
> thing is that everthing seems to be attached to everything else.
> There's no give anywhere.  Usually I can move something just a little
> bit to see where it's attached, but this thing is like chiseled out of
> marble.  Maybe I just need some open-ended time with it.  And yes, next
> time I'll look behind the piano.
>
> Thanks for the suggestions.
>
> Paul
>
> Newton Hunt wrote:
>
> > Hi Paul,
> >
> > Even in those days the workers wanted to be able to get the
> > action out easily, for them anyway.
> >
> > I would first look under the key fronts, behind the
> > keyblocks, sideways intro the keyblocks, and under the
> > keybed.  I have seen screws installed so flush and painted
> > the same color as the surround that they were nearly
> > invisible until the light was just right.
> >
> > Look under any buttons or plugs, look FOR plugs (unlikely).
> > It is also possible there are dowel pins somewhere.
> >
> > The keyslip may be removable, like an S&S but so tight it is
> > stuck.
> >
> > They didn't leave instructions did they.
> >
> > >From behind the piano?  Nah, that is too obvious.
> >
> > Maybe the whole keybed comes out.
> >
> > Lots of fun playing hide and seek.
> >
> > Lot os luck.
> >
> >                 Newton
>