cheekblock/fallboard removal

[Michael Spalding]

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Tom,

Just last week I had the action out of a Howard grand, ca. 1941.  Fallboard and cheekblocks came out together, after removing one screw from each cheekblock (from above, "hidden" under a round-topped rubber plug.  It did take some jiggling and persuading, because  the locating dowels were pretty tight in their holes, and I think the blocks were also hanging up on that flat steel bar that extends from each end of the keyframe under the cheekblocks to guide the shifting action.  So my vote would be same as Keith:  try a little persuasion.

Mike



----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Sent: 2/15/2004 8:34:51 AM 
Subject: cheekblock/fallboard removal


List

Nothing is more embarrassing than not being able to get the fallboard and cheekblocks out of the piano when you want to work on an action problem.  This happened to me yesterday with a Howard grand, circa 1920s.  Fallboard did not lift out.  Cheekblocks had screws from the top, but would not come out when the screws were removed.  There was no screw from the side (horizontally accessible below the key).   Removed a screw from below, but no luck: it was there to hold the leg on.  I think that perhaps there was another screw behind the fallboard but since I couldn't get the fallboard out either, I'm not sure.

Any ideas on how to open this Howard grand up?

I have listed below the different configurations of cheekblock/fallboard designs that I am familiar with.  Could anyone add to this list?  Perhaps the combined experience of the list will help some of us avoid lost time and utter humiliation in front of our clients!

This is what I've come across so far:
     CHEEKBLOCKS
          Screwed in from below
          Screwed in from above (often under a rubber button)
          Screwed in from the side (access below key)
          Attached to fallboard, screwed in from below
     FALLBOARDS
          Lifts out 
          Screwed in with tiny screws accessible and viewable from the front
          Screwed in on the metal hinge thingee, accessible if pulled forward at a 45 degree angle and                unscrewed from the side
          Attached to cheekblocks: unscrew cheekblocks and remove fallboard and cheekblocks 
               together (ala Steinway)

Unfortunately for me the Howard grand fits into none of these categories.

HELP!

Tom Sivak
Chicago Chapter PTG
          
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