Brian; Through the magic of cyber space and courtesy of S&S I invite you to go to the following web site for pictorial representation of a portion of the rim bending process. :-) http://www.steinway.com/html/tour/tour.html This has just one 'rim' building picture but from that picture it is evident that there is no "press" per se. If I remember correctly the process involves : a rim form/inside jig multiple maple veneer plies hide glue shaped outer cauls screw clamps a couple of BIGG hammers for edge leveling:-) Some really 'big' long sticks or levers 5 or 6 men The actual building of the rim, after everything is ready, goes faster than you would think and is very interrrresting to watch. The flat part, or bass side, is the start point and then it is a step by step process of...... lever the bend in -clamp it off-lever the bend -in clamp it off, etc...... until the thingee is completed. After set up and drying time has expired the trim and shaping thingees happen. Labor intensive and quite efficiently producing a very good rim assembly. Or that is the rim building process as I remember it Jim Bryant (FL)
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