Big hammers

[Kent Swafford]

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[The following post from Horace was caught in the filters. Not sure why.

Kent]



Begin forwarded message:

From: Horace Greeley <hgreeley@stanford.edu>
Date: August 31, 2004 10:20:40 PM CDT
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject: Re: Big hammers



  Hi,

  At 07:10 PM 8/31/2004, you wrote:

I guess I'm showing my ignorance but what are you talking about?

  I'm not sure, Avery.=A0 =46rom the few that we can see, these actually=20=

look like pretty workable hammers, to me....I've certainly seen much,=20
much worse in day-to-day use on concert instruments in "name" venues.

  Barb - I would be more concerned about overall action geometry that=20
the size of the hammers at this point.=A0 Those knuckles look a bit =
close=20
to the flange pin.=A0 Also, looking at the backchecks, this is a pre-'87=20=

instrument (for _me_, this is a GOOD THING!...largely because of the=20
significantly larger range of regulation possible...long subject and I=20=

am not looking to start a discussion)...being of that vintage, you are=20=

also going to want to check not only action spread, but also deck=20
height from the keybed to the CP of each of the whippen and hammer=20
flanges.=A0 Try to carefully assess what was actually done at the=20
factory, and what has been done since then...looking especially to see=20=

if there has been a change in the material under the back rail cloth.=A0=20=

Usually, this would have had a layer of red key felt, often on top of=20
one or (sometimes, but not often) two layers of what amounts to manila=20=

card stock (this latter usually dark brown in color).=A0 Also, check to=20=

see when/if anyone has replaced the balance rail pivots; and/or the=20
front rail (felt) punchings.=A0 etc.

  In other words, before doing _anything_ try to get a very solid idea=20=

of what it is you are looking at.=A0 Then, work backwards.=A0 As someone=20=

(Andre?=A0 Isaac? sorry) noted, sometimes (even often) "just" a good,=20
solid regulation will do more for tone and projection than even many=20
technicians will believe.

  So, after all that, those look like S&S hammers; and, from what little=20=

can be seen of them, they look as if they are fairly well molded and=20
shaped...so, look elsewhere before simply throwing them out and=20
starting elsewhere.

  Best.

  Horace




Avery

  At 12:23 PM 8/31/04, you wrote:

Jimminees Chrasmus.... look at those knuckle cores... that HAD to be=20
done willfully... .. or maybe its just the picture is a bit=20
distorted...
  RicB


  Barbara Richmond wrote:

Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions, everyone!
=A0
For your pleasure, I found this picture that I took of the action last=20=

spring.=A0 As you can see, it has some obvious issues--like, when it was=20=

having trouble, nobody bothered to regulate it!=A0 :-)=A0=A0
  =A0
Well, I'm off to put some new casters on a church piano.=A0 Later!
=A0
Barbara Richmond, RPT

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