[pianotech] pianotech Digest, Vol 34, Issue 51

[Diane Hofstetter]

Joe,
I have one of those old Chickering uprights too--and fortunately (maybe) a large collection of old brass plates (my father made a habit of buying parts from widows of piano technicians--when I started working with him, we didn't have a complete set of tools  between us, but when he died, he left me six complete sets!).
 
The last Chickering upright I rebuilt was in 1989.  I was standing in a carpenter's shop, explaining to him how I wanted  him to cut the rail so I could install butts with wood flanges, when the building started shaking and wood that was stored in the rafters started falling on us. We ran outside and watched the cliff across the street turn into a waterfall of sand and rocks.    It was the earthquake that collapsed the San Francisco bay bridge--the epicenter was 6 miles from our shop.  Fortunately we had PTG insurance from Jerry Kiser!
 
I ended up cutting the rail myself and installed a steel rod to match the groove in the flanges.
 
The current Chickering is in my apprentice's shop.  She will have to learn to deal with it!  Joy!

Diane Hofstetter
 

From: pianotech-request at ptg.org
Subject: pianotech Digest, Vol 34, Issue 51
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:10 -0600

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--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: joegarrett at earthlink.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:35:07 -0700
Subject: [pianotech] Baldwin Split bridge was Acrosonic Bass Bridge

Rob said: "I tuned a 1964 Baldwin Acrosonic this morning. They complained
that about 3-4 notes made a funny noise. Further inspection revealed cracks
and shearing of the bass bridge. The first 10-12 strings are affected.
Everything below that is not affected... yet. :-) Since the pitch was 20
cents low, I tuned it where it stood so as to not put even more pressure on
this bridge until I can find a fix for it. I'll bring it up to pitch once
the fix is in.
 
The rest of the piano is in pretty good shape. They don't want to spend too
much but they are willing to spend a moderate amount to have it fixed.
 
So, I've heard of using epoxy, etc. to fix cracks and such, but this seems
to be quite a different beast. What is the best method to fix this? 
 
The rest of the bass bridge below those 12 notes or so seems just fine with
tight pins, etc. It also appears to just affect the cap. Any and all ideas
are appreciated...
 
Thanks,"
 
Rob,
That's definately a re-cap situation. Anything less would be iffy. I do
that sort of thing a lot. It seems to  be mostly Baldwins. Go figger!<G> If
you are not up to the task, then, remove the bridge and send it to me or
any of the available bridge recapper dudes.<G> There are some tricks to
getting the bridge/apron/base out, all in one piece and not destroying the
sound board. All bass bridge strings will need to be taken off the bridge,
(not completely off of the piano.<G>) Put them on a piece of electrical
wire w/loop on one end, to keep them in a decent order for re-installing
and to get them out of the way while you are working<G>
Regards, 
Joe 
 
 
Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
 
 


--Forwarded Message Attachment--
From: joegarrett at earthlink.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:44:38 -0700
Subject: [pianotech] Brass plates

All,
I'm in the process of making some Chickering Upright Brass Flange Plates.
As per usual, this sort of thing turns into some kind of convoluted
odyssey.<G>
 I've discovered that the olde replacement plates w/threaded holes and the
olde brass rails w/threadd holes are not the same as the "new" stuff" from
our favorite supply people. The old stuff has a "M3 x 0.5" thread...yup!
Metric! Who'd a figgered that. However, the "new" stuff has a thread of
3-48...U.S. Tap size! Now to add oddities to this whole mess, the olde
Chickering plates have a 3-48 thread! So...Do Not Discard those olde
screws! Also, don't try to make the new screws work in the old
rails/plates!! Grrrr! Don'tcha just love it!???!! So much for my little
corner of the pianer world for a Monday! (figgers there!<G>)
 
Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
 
 
 		 	   		  
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