Steinway Plate strut Q

[Porritt, David]

I think it depends on to whom you talk at Steinway.  I've heard that
they are only for safety - particularly in moving - and that they can be
removed for replacing dampers etc.  I've also heard that you should be
very cautious in removing it particularly if it takes some strength to
get it out.  I've only had one (B) where I had to remove it and put
stringing braid between the cast bars to eliminate the buzz but that
worked fine.  I think this is the classic case where common sense must
prevail.

 

dp

 

David M. Porritt, RPT

dporritt at smu.edu

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Kerry
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 7:45 AM
To: 'Pianotech List'
Subject: RE: Steinway Plate strut Q

 

Hi Gerry,

 

Ken Sloan and I went around about this issue some years ago. It's called
a diagonal bar, and as I recall the consensus was that if you could
remove the screws easily it probably wasn't doing anything structurally,
and was probably there in case of some unusual stress on the plate. I've
removed them before for stringing and easier access to the tenor dampers
(although I did put them back) with no obvious negative results. Anybody
got any more info on this?

 

Kerry Kean

Kent, Ohio

 

________________________________

From: Gerald Cousins [mailto:cousins_gerry at msn.com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 9:00 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Steinway Plate strut Q

 

Greetings all:
I recently encountered, for the first time ever, a SS- D where the cross
strut (my term here) had been removed.
The strut I am referring to is the one that connects from the bass/tenor
break over to the treble hitch pin and support bolt area.
It is plate steel and usually has STEINWAY raised cast onto the metal.
It connects to the plate with machine screws.
Initial findings and observations: The 2 machine screws were still
screwed into the plate.
Pitch was at 440.  Noticable lack of sustain in treble and high treble.
Plate had no structural issues (yet)
I am uncertain who what or when this was done but my best guess is that
it was forgotten during a restringing.
All comments and opinions as to the good bad or indifferent of this
issue are appreciated. I do have a plan of action but wanted to field 
this one to the list first.
Cordially,
Gerry Cousins, RPT
cousins_gerry at msn.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080627/da1ee423/attachment.html