[pianotech] Harpsichord Tuning Pin Torque?

[John Delacour]

At 15:05 -0400 16/9/10, George F Emerson wrote:

>...Regarding pin torque, a truly traditional instrument has tapered 
>pins, as others have noted.  You have control of the pin torque, as 
>you tune it.  A light tap tightens it, and wiggling the pin out a 
>bit loosens it.  You can remove the pin to replace a string as often 
>as you like without substantial damage to the block.  The idea of 
>zither pins (miniature piano tuning pins) was a bad idea to begin 
>with.

The idea of cylindrical piano pins was not a very brilliant one 
either.  I have a lot to do with Brinsmead and Kirkman pianos, both 
of which used tapered pins and I have rarely had to replace them.

JD