hammer hanging question

[Joseph Alkana]

PNOTNR@AOL.COM wrote:

> List,
>
> I'm replacing hammers on a 1963 Baldwin D Grand.  Unfortunately I am not
> replacing the original hammers.  Whoever installed the existing hammers did a
> very poor job.  They are not close to 90 degrees to the shank, shaping
> appears to have been done freehand, possibly with a pocket knife.  In
> addition, I suspect that these were likely not the correct hammers for this
> instrument from the start.
>
> I figure that using guide hammers from this set may not be much help!
>
> Is 5-1/8" the correct distance (center pin to center of hammer molding) for
> this instrument.  Is this a fairly standard measurement?  Seems like I should
> have been able to find this information in my books or past journals, but I
> wasn't having mush luck.
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Gordon Large, RPT
> Maine

Gordon,
May I suggest reference to Ed McMurrows book, The Educated Piano? I believe the
following shoud be close, but the best solution, always, is using your ears by
trying sample hammers.

88  =  3 mm (from capo)
83  =  4.1      "
78  =  5.5     "
73  =  9        "
68  =  14       "

Hope this helps,

Joseph Alkana   RPT