Upright hammer bore

[ed440 at mindspring.com]

Jon-
I don't see any reason for this, and I doubt it does any harm either.  Maybe it was "process drift" or maybe someone liked the way it looked or had some "reason."  Right or wrong it was intentional.
You could copy it for the sake historical accuracy, or correct it.  Perhaps either way you could attach sample hammers inside the case with a note explaining what you've done.
Ed Sutton

-----Original Message-----
>From: Jon Page <jonpage at comcast.net>
>Sent: Nov 24, 2006 8:41 AM
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Upright hammer bore
>
>Attached are two pix of this M&H overstrike.  In order for the strike angle to
>be more perpendicular to the string, the shanks will have to be shorter
>to maintain the strike point. Also being replaced are the butts and shanks.
>
>Even at their original lengths, the over strike was considerable. More so
>than any flexing of the shank would accommodate, verticals are rarely
>played with that kind of force anyway. The string impressions are very
>lop-sided which indicates to me that the angle needs to be altered.
>
>Was the strike angle sacrificed to enable a longer shank?  Vertical hammers
>are not bored 90 degrees to the shank because the shank is not parallel to
>the strings at contact. So some pitch is required but why so extreme??
>-- 
>
>Regards,
>
>Jon Page