Sohmer

[Owen J. Greyling RPT]

Hi Robin,
Could you elaborate on how you were able to measure the crown on your
Sohmner?  I have a 7 foot, serial # 25512 model #11 in my shop, and am
pondering how to measure the crown with that maple reinforcing strip in the
way.  I don't think that this piano has any crown, but would love to hear
your method.
Thanks, Owen.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robin Hufford" <hufford1@airmail.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 3:45 AM
Subject: Re: Sohmer


> Dale,
>      I have a Sohmer 9B in the shop.  It has conventional crown which is
> about 1/8 in the middle.  This is after restringing and being within 1/2
> step of pitch.   I think these are great pianos and I like their bridge
> agraffe system.  This particular Sohmer had a very pronounced long crack
> running about an inch and a half or so in front of the bridge.  This
> crack, which I have seen on several other Sohmers in virtually the same
> configuration, is obvious stress relief from the forces produced by the
> bridge operating and pulling on the board, that is, relief of shearing
> stresses.  Usually, there is about an eighth of an inch or more of
> offset in height between the two parts of the board where this occurs.
>       In the one in the shop the ribs were dowelled to the board in this
> area and the crack was filled with epoxy.  This crack is about the only
> characteristic failure of  the c. 6 feet Sohmers with the agraffe system
> I have seen, although, as I have seen perhaps, only 8 or 9 over the
> years, this may be a generalization on shaky grounds. The factory,
> apparently, was aware of this as they have attached on the botton side
> of the board, under the bridge, a long reinforcing strip of maple, let
> in and passing through the ribs. The crack occurs in front of this
> strip.
>      As to the agraffe termination at the bridge, I think this works
> quite well and, is probably a better, but more expensive mousetrap.
> Perhaps the expense is not that much more than the conventional method
> but I would guess that it would be as the bridge requires, of course,
> planing, notching of a somewhat different fashion,  the maple strip,
> notching of ribs, AND an agraffe and its installation.  The ringtime of
> this system seems distinctly superior to my ear in comparison to the
> conventional method.
> Regards, Robin Hufford
>
> Erwinspiano@AOL.COM wrote:
>
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