Baldwin Rim Construction

[Farrell]

Thanks Roger. This puppy MAY have been poplar inner and outer rim. Pressed
screwdriver into both rims pretty easy. The piano actually sounded pretty
darn tootin' good - especially considering a dead flat soundboard and half
the strings having a full ZERO downbearing and half having less than normal
downbearing on the long bridge. I was supprised to see such apparent
degredation of the board/whatever (it appeared someone had been messing with
the AccuHitch string ends, as some were way, way up high) When I told the
shopper about the board and all (my son's piano teacher) she frieked and
ran. Oh well. She found a nice '83 Yamaha G5 she liked quite a bit - she may
go that way. Thanks again.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "jolly roger" <baldyam@sk.sympatico.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: Baldwin Rim Construction


> At 12:05 PM 7/28/01 -0400, you wrote:
> >Hello Del - other Baldin expert (or nearly so):
> >
> >I am looking at a 1979 Baldwin R for a close friend. I understand that in
> >the 20s, rims were all hard maple and now they are all maple. But
sometime
> >during the 1960s? 70s? 80s? Baldwin went to poplar or whatever inner
and/or
> >outer rims material. What were they doing in 1979??????
>
> Hi Terry,
>             I am not sure of the dateof of the change over, but my best
> guess is that the outer rim is poplar.  Most times you can tell by a  line
> in the finish on the arms of the cabinet.  The two materials expand and
> contract at different rates, with moisture changes.  In 79 the  cross band
> veneers were thicker than later models.  The complete switch, back to
maple
> on all models happened by early 2000.  SD and SF the year before.
>
> You can check with the point of a pocket knife, from the underside of the
> rim.  The poplar is soft by camparison.  If you do a detailed regulation
> and service, it should be a nice piano.  I service a lot of very nice R's
> from this vintage.
>
> (or nearly so)
> Roger
>
>