Chickering quarter grands

[Susan Kline]

Les Smith wrote a classic post about threaded damper wires a few years ago.
Larry, I'll email it to you.

Originally, after regulation a small spot of burnt shellac was put on the
wire where it entered the damper head, to prevent pivoting. This would not be
a bad way to go, since it's true to the original, and readily removable for
future rebuilders.

Susan Kline
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:hayforker@earthlink.net>Larry 
><mailto:hayforker@earthlink.net>Lobel
>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.<mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>org
>Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 5:55 PM
>Subject: Chickering quarter grands
>
>I restored one of these a couple of years ago, and recently went back to 
>tune it.  I noticed the damper heads are all askew and have been thinking 
>about how to fix this.  The damper wires are screw-threaded at both ends; 
>that is, into the top flange on the bottom and into the head on top, so 
>they're free to rotate and don't stay aligned to the strings.  I hesitate 
>to do anything that would permanently lock them in place, like gluing 
>them, which would make it difficult for the next rebuilder to deal 
>with.  Anyone have any suggestions for this?
>
>I agree these were nicely built pianos, but the tone on the one I restored 
>is weak and antiquated, like pianos built in before 1860, especially in 
>the high treble.
>
>Larry Lobel
>Virtuoso Piano Service
>Petaluma, California 94952  USA
>
>(707) 762-5800 or (707) 529-9676