Sounds to me like a Lindener. Run away. No spares available since 1978. AF ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Ultsch" <multsch at jvlnet.com> To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 4:56 PM Subject: should I repair, replace, retreat,or recommend a recking ball on Thomas vertical? > hi folks, > > I've run across an "interesting" non-standard piano with an > uninteresting problem. > > It is a Thomas model PT vertical. Serial no. 041384. The nameplate > lists the manufacturer as Thomas Organ of Sepulveda California. > Pierce atlas lists only Thomas Piano (not Thomas Organ) as being from > Sepulveda. So, how old is this, anyway? > > The theory of operation is standard, but the only action components > that look standard are the damper felts, hammers and shanks. It > certainly isn't a high-grade piano, but is intriguing from an > mechanical design standpoint. > > The plate is a weldment and the keybed (also a weldment) is attached > to it with machine screws and locator pins. The action is removed > extremely easily by flipping two spring steel clips on the top of two > action brackets. Components are either plastic or stamped steel. For > instance, the spoons are an integral part of the wippen formed from > sheet stock. Backchecks are stampings with buckskin glued to them. > Adjustments (including key height and dip) are made with plastic jack > screws. Wippen, hammer and damper flanges are insert injected plastic > pieces with (what appears to be) spring steel inside. They fit into > approx 1/2" channel rails like mini plastic clothes pins with the > springs reversed. I can't find any screws holding these in place, > either. > > The problem is the damper flanges have a small protruding ear that > retains the damper (torsion) spring end. The spring torsion places > tension on the ear and many of these ears in the bass flanges are > broken off, leaving the dampers to freely wander in space somewhere > between the strings and the damper stop rail. > > Questions: Are these flanges of the soon-to-be-powder plastic type > like old plastic flanges or elbows? Are new flanges available and, if > so, will standard center pins work? Or, I'm wondering if I can get a > dab of epoxy to serve as a prosthetic ear on the existing broken > flanges to hold the spring end (I'll try gluing a broken piece but I > doubt it, though). Is it worth it to replace or repair? > > Disclaimer: Please correct me if some of my observations may be off a > bit: It's bifocal time. > > Thanks for your comments and suggestions. > > Mark Ultsch, RPT > Madison Chapter > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20060725/a0b9fa27/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 60380 bytes Desc: not available Url : https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20060725/a0b9fa27/attachment-0001.jpe
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