S&S Hammers

[Ken Jankura]

Thanks for your reply, Dave. I don't generally go looking for geometry to
change, though I am new enough in this business to get into trouble now and
again due to overenthusiasm.
Part of the problem is that action work was done on this piano in 1960, and
it is hard to diagnose whether parts replacement (shanks-16mm knuckles- and
hammers) was better or worse than the original. In general the action is
too heavy and sluggish, though worn knucks and felts contribute to this.
I'm going with 17mm shanks, and am planning to do a target strike weight
(thank you David Stanwood and Bob Marinelli for a great 4 period class at
the PA State). Another tech I respect says he generally reproduces what is
there. Is there a consensus on this issue? 

>Ken:
>
>I don't know what kind of replies you'll get from others, but I wouldn't do
>anything drastic to conform to some measurement unless there is a problem to
>solve.  Is the action too light? hard to control?  feel odd?  If not, I'd
copy
>what's there and works.  Action redesign can be fun, challenging etc. but I
>wouldn't do it in the absence of a problem.
>
>dave
>
>
>Ken Jankura wrote:
>
>> List,
>>    I'm trying to do justice to a 1901 'B', and am wondering about the
>> measurement from the hammer flange center pin to the center of the hammer
>> molding. I've heard that the length, in the best of all possible worlds,
>> should be 5-1/8 inches. The actual measurement on this one is 5 to 5-1/16
>> inches. How sacrosanct is the theoretical? I can move the keyframe forward,
>> even if I have to plane down the keyslip a little to make more room so I
>> can hang hammers at 5-1/8. Does anyone do this as a matter of course to
>> 'correct' this situation? I'm having a new keyboard made, and this would
>> allow for longer sharps to be fitted, an added benefit.
>>      Ken Jankura, RPT
>>      Newburg, PA
>>
>
>
>
>--
>_______________________________________________
>
>David M. Porritt, RPT
>Meadows School of the Arts
>Southern Methodist University
>Dallas, Texas
>mailto:dporritt@swbell.net
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>
>