Upright Action Mounts

[Brian Trout]

Hi Richard,

I don't know if you will be able to find it while you're here, but there's a
guy in the States named Jeff Jewitt.  He put out a book and one or two
companion videos on hand finishing.  If I remember, they're not all that
expensive, and they sound like just what you're looking for.  (The videos
are really good, because you can _see_ what he's talking about, and witness
him doing what it says in the book.)  A picture is worth a thousand words,
so a video could be pretty near priceless!  :-)  Definitely worth checking
out.  "Hand-Applied Finishes" I think it is, but don't hold me to that
exactly.  He does a section on French polishing as well as using shellac,
lacquer, and perhaps a couple of others, all by hand.  He's definitely a
master of his craft.

Good luck,

Brian Trout
Quarryville, Pa.
btrout@desupernet.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Brekne <richardb@c2i.net>
To: PTG <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 1999 1:04 PM
Subject: Upright Action Mounts


>Hi list
>
>Going on vacation soon,, but before I do I just wanted to throw in one I
>bumped into yesterday. I have been doing a bit of work on an older
>Rønisch piano. We had it in the shop and stripped it down, tried my hand
>at french polish (which by the way is like really tough to get any real
>written information about), restrung, new hammerheads, new keytops etc
>etc.
>
>I have been haveing trouble keeping it regulated well, and was beginning
>to wonder what the frog was going on when I happened to notice yesterday
>that there was a big screw on the back side of the action at the "V"
>break on the plate that wasnt sitting really all that tight against the
>peice of leather glued to the plate right there. So I gave it a couple
>quick twists, made sure it was firm against the plate and  "Voualala.."
>The thing felt about 10 times more solid and firm to play on. I whipped
>through the regulation once more and this old beater played like a
>dream, damped much better and the action was a bit quicker.
>
>Now being a rather seasoned salt I should have perhaps known to check
>this screw, probly should have learned this one about 20 years ago. I
>have seen this screw often enough without ever paying more attention to
>it then to make sure it wasnt rattling against the plate. (DUMB !) It
>had frankly never dawned on me that this screw being a bit to far away
>from the plate could make so big a difference.
>
>When thinking about it it only makes sense of course. This is usually
>found on older pianos that have just two action brackets. This makes for
>a weak construction with a long span of wood for the main rail.
>Stressing the rail outwards just a bit from the plate by turning this
>screw out enough provides for a good deal of added stability, both
>vertically and horizontally.
>
>I write this all (in all humbleness for my lack of observation through
>the years regarding this) as I figured I probly wasnt the only one to
>miss this little guys importance. So anytime you run into one of those
>old fellows with two action brackets and this "push screw" at the V in
>the plate, make sure to check it. Perhaps it is not always so critical,
>but in this case it made a world of difference.
>
>Anybody out there who has a more "school book" description of the reason
>for this screw ??
>
>Richard Brekne
>I.C.P.T.G.  N.P.T.F.
>
>