Scaling/Restringing Problem on 1909 5' Ivers & Pond #46320

[Delwin D Fandrich]

Just one more reason to always, always! include the cost of rescaling in the
price of the rebuild. Even if it is just for the peace of mind in knowing that
the scale is as good as it can be for a given piano. Even if you were to find
the wire size numbers in Travis' book there is no assurance that these numbers
will give you anything like a good, responsive stringing scale. Many, if not
most, early scales were haphazard at best. If you don't care to get into the
math of scaling yourself there are many of us who can do this work for you. For
a fee, of course.
 
ddf


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From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Michael Magness
Sent: May 21, 2008 5:15 AM
To: Pianotech List; caut at ptg.org
Subject: Scaling/Restringing Problem on 1909 5' Ivers & Pond #46320


I brought this piano in for a full rebuild and removed bass/wound strings first,
which extend to D3 in this particular scale, so as to take all of the
measurements, rubbings and info to send to James Arledge.
The problem arose when I turned to the Travis guide to restringing to find the
scale, there were three possibilities, one was labeled "82", the piano I'm
working on has "83" cast into the plate in 2" letters, one had a number(serial
number?) lower than mine #42164, the last was just an I&P scale.
As I began checking wire sizes none of them matched any of the scales from the
book, not even the scale for the 5'3" I&P!
 
Checking at appropriate intervals I found, #14 wire on 88&87, 13&1/2 on 84, 14
on 81, 14 & 1/2 on 80, 14 on 75, 15 on 72 & 70 and finally found 16 on 62.
Number 56 is #22 wire!!! 
 
>From the look and condition of the piano I'm relatively certain all strings are
originals or any replacements are very old so as to appear original. 
 
If anyone has any info they can share about this instrument or has rebuilt one
in the past and wishes to share their experience, it would be greatly
appreciated.
 
I did not expect nor include in the estimate a rescale but am prepared to do so
barring any other info.
 
Thanks,
Mike

-- 
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch
excellence. 
Vince Lombardi

Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com 

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