Schiedmayer Grand Questions

[David Love]

I believe those are lag bolts that extend down through the rim and emerge
above the legs.  They will be accessible if you remove the legs.  It's been
awhile since I've done one of those but recall encountering the same
quandary.  You don't need to cut them out.  Remove the leg and you should
see a nut which can be loosened to remove the bolts.    

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Joe DeFazio
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 11:38 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: Schiedmayer Grand Questions

Thanks, John, for the helpful information.  I appreciate it.

On Jul 10, 2008, John Delacour wrote:

> FIrst question : WHICH Schiedmayer?

As I believe you figured out from the slotless bolts at the front  
corners of the plate, it is a S. Pianofortefabrik.

>> Does it look as if the plank has been replaced by the previous  
>> repairer?

I sure thought so, until I found out from you that there is apparently  
an inaccessible captured nut attached to the bottom of the slotless  
bolts.  If the plate was out for pinblock fitting, I'm not sure how  
they would have reinstalled the bolts.  I thought that the pinblock  
was a replacement because the fit is extremely poor to the plate  
flange, and to the sides, and the block is not glued in, and the  
pinblock screws protrude through the block oddly, and the bottoms of  
many the holes in the block were blown out by what looks to be  
careless drilling.  None of these seemed consistent with the otherwise  
fine quality of the design and manufacture of the instrument.  Oh, and  
the wood looks fairly new, and is 13-14 ply (one extra ply in the  
raised bass section of the pinfield, matching the bottom of the  
plate).  I guess I'll find out once the plate is out....

> Once you have the frame and the plank out, it should become quite  
> clear how the piano was originally constructed, and I'd rebuild it  
> as it was meant to be originally.

That's what I'll do, after cutting slots and backing out the bolts, or  
machining off the heads, as you suggested.

> For the bass scale there is no problem; this can be brought within  
> proper tolerances and will also sound better.  Send me the lengths  
> of the plain wire and the bass so that I can do my own calculations.  
> The problem of excessive tension is common to both factories, and to  
> grands and uprights, at least at certain periods.

Very kind offer, John.  I will assemble that info and email it to you  
off list this weekend.

Thanks again,

Joe DeFazio (another JD)