I have had several spinets of a similar vintage, (also British design) cause a similar problem with double-hitting. I found that the action support brackets were not properly seated and had slipped upwards and outwards causing a huge lost motion problem......it's a stab in the dark, as I haven't seen the piano you mention......but you never know Good Luck Mark Bolsius ---------- From: Clyde Hollinger <cedel@redrose.net> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Knight spinet Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:03 AM Friends: Once again I came across a piano action I am unfamiliar with. The piano I saw for the first time yesterday (Knight spinet serial 11597 made in 1952) appears to be in nice condition but was seriously out of tune due to neglect and loose tuning pins. Also, very shallow keydip caused some multi-striking hammers. I never before saw a piano with such short keys; the sharps had less than 3" (8cm) between the balance rail pin and the back end of the key! Question 1 - Is there are way to increase keydip "wholesale" that I am unaware of? The only way I could think of was to raise the balance rail, but then the keys would be too high for the name board strip. I didn't see any way to lower the front rail. How did the piano get this way in the first place? Question 2 to anyone who is familiar with this particular piano - What is the purpose of the stationary capstan dowels underneath the wippens? Question 3 - Where many American spinets would have key forks, this piano has a wedge-shaped slot in the end of the key, into which the sticker wire snaps. Due to the snugness of the sticker wire, don't I run the risk of cracking the key when removing and replacing the sticker wires? Should I even worry myself with this piano? I thought Knight pianos had a good reputation, but should I just walk away from this one (is it an oddball design) since the owners don't seem to care anyway? The blubbering hammers really bother me. Clyde Hollinger Lititz, PA
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