[pianotech] WNG Parts Question

[John Delacour]

At 08:30 -0700 22/6/10, Nicholas Gravagne wrote:

>For those of you familiar with the new Wessell, Nickel and Gross 
>(WNG) composite action parts:
>
>Having recently installed WNG whippens along with shanks and flanges 
>(w/ the new hard bushings) I have a couple of questions...

Thank you for the information, Nick.  I am/was seriously thinking of 
fitting a set of the shanks only and would be interested also in 
others' comments.

I met Bruce Clark in England a few weeks ago and had a long chat with 
him.  I have since spoken to him on the phone concerning the problem 
reported in a file on the WNG site concerning the problems with the 
white glue, and he is going to send some CA gel with the shanks.  I 
asked whether a thickned epoxy might be as good and he convinced me 
that the gel is more suitable;  first it will set more quickly and 
second it would make removal simpler.  If you used the now deprecated 
white glue, that might be the source of the clicking.  I hope is is 
not in the centres, as this might make me rethink the whole matter 
until they get things right.

Good to know the shanks 'burn' well.

I know they supply centre pins increasing in size in exceptionally 
small gradations, and if your clicking comes from the centres, I 
guess this is the solution, but if they click from new it does not 
bode well.

The springs are stainless steel, as you know.  I questioned Bruce 
about this, because I saw no point in using SS when phosphor-bronze 
and even brass have proved themselves without problem for 150 years. 
I was also critical of his decision to stick with the most primitive 
and PITA type of repetition spring, and the reason he gave me was 
that an adjusting screw would add weight.  Yeah, and a fat lot of 
weight it would add compared with the added convenience of an 
adjustment such as used by Ibach, Grotrian, Schimmel etc. for 
donkeys' years.

I was generally very impressed with the quality of all the products I 
saw and with the thought that had gone into their design.  Sometimes, 
in my opinion, the thought was misconceived, but at least it existed! 
Bruce is a nice guy and knows his stuff.  I rarely meet anybody more 
obstinate than myself, so it was a pleasant experience to meet him!

JD


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