captured action

[Farrell]

I rewhatevered a little Estey a couple years ago (this is an Estey? Correct?). But it had an easily removable action. You are right that the stretcher is not at all attached to the pinblock - but I had always assumed these stretchers on most any piano are mortised somehow into the rim - likely not something you want to remove unless absolutely necessary. In fact, I just remembered, the stretcher on mine was loose - you could rotate it just a hair - almost like it was held into the side with a dowel - likely just a sloppy mortise job - but even though it was loose, it was not about to just fall out - if you want to remove it, I'm pretty sure it will only happen with a saw in your hand (or a hatchet?).

P.S. - be careful with those VIOLIN BRIDGES!!!

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Spalding" <spalding48@earthlink.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 10:53 PM
Subject: Re: captured action


> 
> Ron, answers to your questions inserted below.  Thanks for your interest.
> 
> Mike
> 
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Ron Nossaman <RNossaman@cox.net>
> > To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>; <spalding48@earthlink.net>
> > Date: 5/27/2003 9:37:30 PM
> > Subject: Re: captured action
> >
> >
> > >I need help figuring out how to get the action out of an Estey baby
> grand.
> > >As it sits, the bass hammers are 1/4 to 1/2 inch higher than the bottom
> of
> > >the stretcher.  Blow distance is 2", the shanks are settled firmly on the
> > >rest rail felt.
> >
> > Terrific, another "locked door murder" puzzle. I assume the perpetrator 
> > wasn't a criminal genius, so the action was gotten in there somehow, then 
> > something fairly simple (I hope) was changed. Does the stretcher look 
> > "painted in" where it contacts the rim, or is there an obvious gap
> between 
> > the two?
> 
> Looks "painted" (lacquered, actually) in, but also looks like it's been
> messed up a little over the years.  No gap.  This is the mystery attachment
> point.   
> 
>  Is there no contact at all between stretcher and pinblock, as in - 
> > can you insert something between the two so it can be seen underneath and 
> > slide it from rim to rim without hitting anything?
> 
> No contact between the stretcher and pinblock.   1cm or more gap.
> 
> 
> > Is there enough compression slack to the shank rest felts to insert a
> piece 
> > of poster board between the spreader and hammers and shoehorn the action 
> > out with it? Does raising the glide bolts get you any clearance?
> 
> No compression slack in the rest felt.  I should have said "shanks are
> settled firmly into the rest rail felt"
> 
> > With a two inch blow distance, and no clearance at the stretcher,
> something 
> > is really strange. What's the key dip, by the way?
> 
> Key dip is around 3/8, not enough to achieve let-off on most notes.  This
> piano was recently inherited and moved from Gramma's on the coast hasn't
> been played since no-one remembers when, now they're wondering what it
> would take to make it playable.   (So am I )
> 
> >
> > Ron N
> 
> 
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