Rebuilding Henry

[Delwin D Fandrich]

In my experience it is possible to make a silk purse out of most anything. In
the roughly three decades I've been doing this type of work I've encountered
only a very few pianos that were really unworkable. If the plate is more-or-less
conventional and the rim is decently built you have the basis for a good piano.
The basic principles are the same for all pianos -- regardless of original
manufacture. 
 
Until you get known for doing this type of work it is useful to have an example
of your work around for people to look at, play and listen to. Don't bother with
Steinway, M&H, etc. No matter that you've been able to make it sound better than
its makers ever dreamed possible you'll be stuck with the fact that it is a "top
name" piano and it's supposed to sound good. Find yourself one of those old
Henry's or a Kimball or something and go to it. Everyone knows these pianos are
supposed to sound poorly so when one ends up sounding better than anything else
around it has to be a credit to your work and the redesign. When it's finished
start having recitals on the thing. Invite folks in to play it who aren't in the
market for anything. Do whatever -- just get the word out there. 
 
Eventually you can consider selling the thing. But only after the word has
gotten around and folks are bringing you more work than you can handle.
 
Del


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From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Will Truitt
Sent: June 01, 2008 4:25 AM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: Rebuilding Henry



You know, Dale, it might be really informative for you to tell us how you
approached selling this work to your customers.  That would be of more than
passing interest to those of us in New England - old Henry F. Miller grands are
about as common as black flies in May here.  

 

When it is finally making some noise it would be interesting for you to share
with us how it sounds.  Most New England rebuilders have a few Millers under
their belts (come to think of it, that probably does include the suds too!), and
they are often disappointing, characterized by a weak, lifeless treble.  So if
you can make a silk purse.. 

 

Will

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
erwinspiano at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2008 12:36 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: Rebuilding Henry

 

 



 Well of course. Custom Seats too!
  Dale

Yeh, Dale.  A teenage boy with a hot rod - where have we seen that before?  Does
that come with a Positraction Action?

 

Will

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org?> ] On Behalf Of erwinspiano at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 8:49 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: Rebuilding Henry

 




  Hey Will
  This is a clients piano. A woman who also writes for our local paper has a 15
year old son who is a real up and coming player. They voted to have Henry
rebuilt into a hot rod rather than spend the same amount of money on a garden
variety piano. Also, Her son is very fond of the piano & didn't' want to give it
up. I really like this story because he gets a life time, High performance,
custom built & designed musical instrument to develop his skills on.. Where can
you buy that new? For what there spending. Shigurus are up there,&
Steingraebbers ? big money. This is very affordable option for them. We're doing
the action & dampers.  Finish is later.
   Oh...you know....I used to make mischief all by myself but Now Dennis is
getting good at this too. He gets it....he hears it.
  Whoo hhoo!!
  Dale
 

So Dale, is this a customer piano, or are you making mischief all by yourself?

 

Will Truitt

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org?> ] On Behalf Of erwinspiano at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:56 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Rebuilding Henry

 

  Good Morning All Fellow Belly Heads
   It's not often I get to start over & actually design a piano but this was a
good candidate & it's been fun. It was also necessary. 
    I Love the Non Steinway projects especially the big ones. I am rebuilding a
6 ft 8 inch Henry F. Miller from the early 1900's.  It's great because
it's....big ...Has a horribly designed board & string scale but it is built like
a tank.
  This Job has been a bit daunting because of the duplex angles on the pinblock
to flange & also the mortised in pinblock. Dennis & I had to build it in two
sections & then patch up the side of the case where it was cut out.
   The String scale was a nightmare that averaged between 220 & 240 per plain
wire string.  Aggregate plain wire tensions was 38 Thousand pounds.  Add the
bass string tension & it's pushing 50 thousand pounds total tension on the
plate.  Un heard of!  Just changing wire size wasn't going to get there. New
wire tension was down to 33 thousand.
  This meant making a new bridge. I modeled the new one off a 1894 Steinway B
bridge/scale & got the tensions down to 160 to 180. Very Steinwayish & normal.
Also the new bridge shape shaved off two plus inches in string length & now lies
closer to the center of the rib structure. See bridge laying side by side or
over layed. 
  I changed rib scales to work nicely with he string scale. 15 ribs fanned &
taller of course. The old board probably caved in under the tension of the
original scale before it left the factory.

 
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItogcU*MGYr
4fuv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

View full size
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItogcU*MGYr
4fuv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

 

  Below is the redesign & addition of the fish.  I think the bridge on this
piano lies closer to the actual center of the ribs than any other I've done.

 
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItojoCEoi6r
*B-v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

View full size
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItojoCEoi6r
*B-v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

 

  Below I laid the old bridge end right on top of the note 88 location & the
bottom end on the appropriate note on the low tenor end.  The difference is seen
 
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItogit5yJKI
Tpxv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

View full size
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItogit5yJKI
Tpxv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

 

     Below shows the new bridge & transition bridge

 
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItoqa0vYvk2
G28v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

View full size
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItoqa0vYvk2
G28v4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

 

 Here is a new plate suspension system that Ron N. & David Love shared with me.
The miller plate set on a wooden top caul with 17 screws. Duplicating such a
thing is joke. SO for about 2 bucks a piece this simple & elegant solution
quickly solved my plate elevation issues. Parts are from Mac Master -Carr.  They
have everything! I filled int he counter sunk plate screw holes with epoxy &
high density filler then re drilled the entire hole a bit bigger for clearance.

 
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuIton9AtjdXy
ITOv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

View full size
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuIton9AtjdXy
ITOv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

 

  Here is a new device. Below.  I got this idea from David Betts at NBSS. It's
high density rubber that is used to glue in the board. No more wood strips lined
with plastic to keep things from sticking. It bends with a bit of effort. Very
slick. Glued the board in Yesterday. I have always wanted to put a Steinway
String scale/bridge in something else & see what I could produce tonally. I
guess we'll know soon.
 
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItoglPfQDSg
X2Hv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

View full size
<http://pictures.aol.com/ap/singleImage.do?pid=e8d0ZBAkj8b9hteeS5PIZuItoglPfQDSg
X2Hv4xQp5Fd3Ig%3D> 

 

  Dale Erwin


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