While doing some repairs, minor reconditioning, and regulation on a 1926 Armstrong 4' 10" grand (with bass sustain instead of a sostenuto), I found that the damper lift had been little to almost non-existent on many notes. (Tuning it was a real challenge.) After regulating a few underlevers, I found that nothing improved, and that these re-regulated underlevers now got stuck on the back edge of the keystick and jammed. Only the very end 1/16 inch of the damper lift felt squares have any impression marks from the underlevers. Apparently, either the keysticks are too short, or the action was installed too far forward (toward the pianist). The action placement has apparaently never been re-adjusted from factory settings. I think the dampers worked for years because the 1/4" thick lifter felts extended past the key wood about 1/16" and didn't fail until recently. I am considering extension of all keylengths by about 3/8" by glueing small blocks of wood, or pieces of veneer before glueing in new felt on each keystick. This will involve some time and damper reregulation. Am I missing something major, as I have never heard of this problem before? Several weeks ago I asked advice about an unavailable fallboard decal, and several of you gave the same advice; to purchase office supply dry transfer letters and create a new decal. I apologize for not thanking you earlier, as we have been very busy with other projects the past 3 wks. Fred Scoles, RPT, Oswego, NY, Syracuse Chapter 131
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