Mark, I agree with Alan. But you have a good tech there in Madison, Bill Bremmer. I'd suggest giving him a call and asking him to look at it. I don't know if he will or not, but be prepared to pay him something to do so! Avery Todd At 10:56 AM 7/25/2006, you wrote: >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/dfda419e/attachment.html
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