Tuning Pin Size Sorting Results

[Gordon Holley]

Hello Jerry, Terry, Newton, Joe and all others that contributed to my 
post on tuning pin sizes.  I sorted the box of 4/0 pins last night 
and the results are as follows:  I believe a 4/0 pin dia. should be 
.291 and the sorted batch came out with 6 size groups:

.290 about 30% of the box
.289 about 20 % of the box
.288 about 20 % of the box
.291 about 15 % of the box
.292 about 10 % of the box
.293 about   5 % of the box
  
So as I believe Terry said there could be 6 size groups and Jerry 
suggests 3 to 4 groups.  

If I combine the .293 and .292 for the bass;  .291 and .290 sizes for 
the tenor; and the .289 and .288 for the treble I should pretty much 
have the pins divided up across the strings. 

I found one pin that was .287 at the bottom and .292 at the top of 
the threads, it would roll on a table top is a very wide arc, so I 
threw this one out, but all others were straight.

Another point I picked up at The Charles Walter Piano Company here in 
Elkhart, IN.  They dump the box of pins in a strainer basket that is 
in a little larger pan of denatured alcohol, lift the strainer basket 
out, let the pins drain dry and then install the pins.  They do not 
check the pins for size.  They feel that the alcohol cleans the pins 
and have followed this procedure for some time.  I saw this being 
done while visiting on the production line.  Any comments on this as 
I've not read or heard of this procedure before.  

Any further comments or suggestions on my sorting results?

Regards, Gordon Holley, Goshen, Indiana (Sister community to Elkhart)