Bill: Like Joe I learned the hard way to find the groove in the clip for securing the unit. Thanks to this list I found the solution. ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe & Penny Goss <imatunr@primenet.com> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 3:44 PM Subject: Re: Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright? > Hi Carl, > Way back I broke several of the (plates) when installing brass style hammer > thingees. It really fustrated me until I realized that to keep from breaking > the plate one needs to tighten the screw until it is just starting to get > tight then back it off and wiggle the hammer assembly to find the groove > in the rail. The screw can then be tightened fairly snug. The exception is > when the hammer assembly has been repined and a large center pin used. > That is why I rebush rather than repin on a brass rail. > Joe Goss > Message ----- > From: carl meyer <cmpiano@earthlink.net> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 8:54 AM > Subject: Re: Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright? > > > > Anytime you "work" brass or other metal and glass it becomes "work > > hardened". Since brass flanges are under stress for years it becomes > > work hardened. I spoke to a metal treating fellow that told me it > > needed to be heated to 1200 degrees and cooled over several hours. I'm > > sure that is the ultimate and something less drastic would be of some > > help. I recently replaced all the small brass plates on a lester > > upright, since some were broken. I left the actual rail alone since it > > was still all intact. I made sure I didn't overtighten the screws. I > > think many are broken because the hammer shank wobbled because the pin > > was loose and someone tried to fix it by overtightening the screw and > > cracked the brass plate. > > > > Carl Meyer > > Santa Clara, Ca. > > > > John Ross wrote: > > > > > > Hi Bill, > > > Have you tried the repair flange #517 in the Schaff catalogue, page 99. > > > It appears that all you do is cut out the bad section of rail, and > > > substitute > > > however many of these you need. > > > For the rail parts that are still good, I was at a class in Dearborn, > where > > > the rail was heated (annealed) to make it flexible again. I can't > remember > > > the temperature it had to be raised to. Maybe someone else on the list > > > has the particulars. > > > Regards, > > > John M. Ross > > > Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: <BSimon999@AOL.COM> > > > To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > > > Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2000 11:49 AM > > > Subject: Brass Rail Clips? On Lyon and Healy Upright? > > > > > > > I am looking for some advice on solving a problem. > > > > > > > > A very nice poverty struck customer who with best intentions bought a > 1908 > > > > Lyon and Healy upright for a hundred dollars, "for the kid to earn > on". > > > > > > > > I was called to tune it after the first 5 brass rail tabs broke off. > The > > > > action is the problem, the rest of the piano is remarkably good. Brass > > > rail > > > > clips do not work well on this particular piano's brass rail geometry, > > > > raising the hammer butt over an eight of an inch. No normal repair > flanges > > > > fit to the screw hole and centerpin line. I have been removing the > section > > > of > > > > brass rail of just a particular note and using Billings flanges beaten > > > flat > > > > to repair it, but it is a clunky repair and is not that easy to do. > > > > > > > > Has anyone successfully dealt with a Lyon and Healy having this > problem? > > > > (Out of curiosity only, is there a good source for brass rail clips? ) > > > > > > > > Has anyone ever removed the brass rail completely and replaced it with > > > wood > > > > flanges. > > > > If you did, what kind of time did it take? A certain amount of Pro > Bono > > > work > > > > is usual for me, but this one could get out of hand in a blink. My > > > > preference is to find a physical solution for the action problem and > show > > > the > > > > fellow how to do it himself, for he is very handy. > > > > > > > > Any advice? I hate for the piano to be lost for want of a flange > solution. > > > > > > > > Thank You, > > > > Bill Simon > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC