4 pedals

[Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre]

Hi Tom,
                  I think this may be a silent piano feature, and I am not 
joking. The hammer shanks hits the felt just before the hammer strikes the 
strings.   Used strictly for finger exercises.  I recall rebuilding an old 
Bell with a similar feature.
Regards Roger


At 10:11 PM 8/29/02 +0000, you wrote:
>Hi, John,
>
>   I'm sorry my description and your view did not click.  There is no way 
> that this is a practise mute - I'm all too familiar with them, trimmed or not.
>
>   This piece of wood is on a bit of an eccentric so that when the pedal 
> is pushed down, the whole piece moves to the left and then forward 
> towards the hammer shanks, just below the hammers ( maybe an inch or 
> so).  All along the edge of the wood are 3 deep felt layers about 3/8 
> inch wide.  Each layer corresponds to the length of the appropriate set 
> of hammers.  So, I knew that the hammer shanks had to hit the felt.  The 
> question was are the hammers supposed to then hit the strings or not.
>
>   Don Rose discussed this a little with me, just today, and I agree with 
> him that given age and wear factors, it might be best to not regulate 
> this to do either of the possible functions as the impact at the shank 
> might be detrimental to several parts of the hammer assembly.
>
>   Anyway, it sounds like you have a clearer picture of the mechanism 
> thanks to Craig.  Sorry my description didn't do the trick!
>
>   We'll talk again.
>
>Sincerely,
>Tom Dickson
>
>
>
>>From: "John Ross" <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>
>>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>>Subject: Re: 4 pedals
>>Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2002 16:23:17 -0300
>>
>>Great learning tool, this list.
>>I had never seen the mechanism, as yet. When I do, I will, now know
>>how it works.
>>Regards,
>>John M. Ross
>>Windsor, Nova Scotia.
>>jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Craig Glasser" <cglasser@hotmail.com>
>>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>>Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 11:14 AM
>>Subject: Re: 4 pedals
>>
>>
>>| I have a 1895 Geo. P. Bent "Crown" upright.  On this piano the
>>fourth pedal
>>| is called a "practice clavier".  It is intended to allow one to
>>practice
>>| playing and not make much noise.  So, on mine, the practice clavier
>>prevents
>>| the hammers from striking the keys.
>>|
>>| ----- Original Message -----
>>| From: "John Ross" <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>
>>| To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>>| Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 4:08 AM
>>| Subject: Re: 4 pedals
>>|
>>|
>>| > Hi Tom,
>>| > I think it is a practise mute, that the felt overhang has been
>>removed
>>| > from. The reason the hammer shanks hit it, is because the hammers
>>are
>>| > worn, or have been carded, changing their length.
>>| > Regards,
>>| > John M. Ross
>>| > Windsor, Nova Scotia.
>>| > jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
>>| > ----- Original Message -----
>>| > From: "Tom Dickson" <td_tuner@hotmail.com>
>>| > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>>| > Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 9:30 PM
>>| > Subject: 4 pedals
>>| >
>>| >
>>| > | Hi, Folks,
>>| > |
>>| > |    I floated this "balloon" earlier this week, but I still have
>>not
>>| > gotten a
>>| > | totally satisfactory answer.
>>| > |
>>| > |    A 1905 Bell piano has 4 pedals.  John told me about the third
>>| > one - a
>>| > | "rinky-dink" effect for the sound (leather stips go between the
>>| > strings and
>>| > | the hammer).  Very much appreciated!
>>| > |
>>| > |    The 4th pedal moves a stick that is below the hammers and
>>| > apparently the
>>| > | shanks hit ( it has thick felt that is in the lengths to affect
>>all
>>| > shanks).
>>| > |   My question is:  Should this be regulated so that the hammer
>>| > impact is
>>| > | reduced - therefore the volume is much lower, OR should this be
>>| > regulated so
>>| > | that the hammers never hit the strings - such that the pianist
>>can
>>| > practice
>>| > | fingering, but make no sound?
>>| > |
>>| > |    I would like to be sure that my reguation of this device is
>>| > correct.
>>| > |
>>| > |    Any help would be appreciated!
>>| > |
>>| > | Sincerely,
>>| > | Tom Dickson,
>>| > | Regina, SK, Canada
>>| > |
>>| > |
>>_________________________________________________________________
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>>| > |
>>| > |
>>| >
>>| >
>>| >
>>|
>>|
>
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
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Roger