Wire Size Differences

[Gordon Holley]

Thanks Greg for your response.  No I have no reason to duplicate what 
was original.  There are suggestions i.e. Terry Farrel, to contact 
Joe Garrett on re-scaling the piano.  I'm digesting all of the 
responces I'm getting, including yours on the new bridge, and after 
adding up the $$$$$ I'll make a judgement call based on the 
recommendations.  As I said, this is my first attempt, so I'm taking 
everything slow and deliberate.  This is not a customers piano, I 
bought it for $300.00 for a friend who just wahted it out of the 
house to make room for an organ which she wanted to play more than 
the piano.  The bass strings are in a box ready to be either shipped 
off to Schaff to have new ones made, or held until the "rescaling 
subject" is resolved.  Again thanks for your suggestions. Regards,  
Gordon
On 10 Jul 2002 at 12:22, Greg Newell wrote:

> Gordon,
>          Is there any reason you feel the need to duplicate exactly what 
> was there originally? I would suggest obtaining the services of someone 
> competent enough to do a rescale for you. Chances are this piano can be 
> made to sound much better than it was originally. As long as you're at it 
> you might make a new bridge too and really make it sing!
> 
> Greg Newell
> 
> 
> At 10:16 AM 7/10/2002, you wrote:
> >List.  I'm re-stringing a 1936 Starr Grand and in checking the wire
> >sizes in the tenor and treble sections I first used a music wire
> >gauge, purchased from Schaff, and then took readings with a
> >micrometer.  With the wire gauge, which doesn't measure half sizes, I
> >get sizes such as 21, 19, 18, 17, etc.  When using the micrometer
> >those same wire sizes read .046 which would be a 20 1/2 wire size,
> >.042 which is an 18 1/2, .040 which is 17 1/2 wire size, and .037
> >which is a 16 wire size.  OK you get the idea.
> >I did read some time back that the wire sizes in an older piano, such
> >as this, are going to stetch over time and not give accurate
> >measurements when one is going to re-string.  Should I stick with the
> >wire sizes as taken with the wire gauge which will be full sizes and
> >no half sizes, or punt?.
> >I would appreciate some discourse on this subject again.  Thanks in
> >advance to all.  BTW this is my first attempt at trying to make "Old
> >Grand" look new.  Hammers, shanks, strings, pins, felt, cloth, paint
> >job on plate, some lip stick, pearls and black boots,  etc., etc.
> >And yes, I know I won't make any profit on this when I sell it,
> >probably give it to one of our kids, but it's all a part of my
> >training and I'm having a lot of fun doing it..   Thanks again,
> >Gordon Holley, Goshen, Indiana.
> 
> Greg Newell
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net