Lowell Gauge...was Down Bearing

[David Skolnik]

John Hartman - John Hartman

Can you elaborate as to how you use the method and tools to which you refer 
below in measuring downbearing in a strung piano?

David Skolnik RPT, DBH



At 10:53 PM 2/21/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>Bearing Heads,
>
>I have been following this topic with a little amusement. Years ago a 
>fellow tech lent me his newest gadget, the lowell Bearing gauge. I gave it 
>a try but it was no more useful or accurate than the simple tools I had 
>been using. I returned the tool. When the tech asked my opinion I said 
>something noncommittal but polite, I didn't have the heart to tell him he 
>just wasted $100.
>
>Keep your bubble gauges I will stick to this e
>simple method I learned from a friend that worked at the Steinway factory. 
>It's accurate, fast and cheap and has been around forever.
>
>Any straight grained hardwood will due, I like maple or cheery. Make them 
>in several lengths for each section of the tenor and treble. I Use the 
>same metal stacking gauges I use when setting the bearing with the 
>strings. If you must have angular deflections you simple look it up on a 
>chart. Since it reads the bearing in the same way I set bearing it gives 
>me fast and comprehensible feed back. It is interesting to see the 
>fluctuation due to changes in environmental RH.
>
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
>
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
>
>
>John Hartman RPT
>
>John Hartman Pianos
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
>Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin
>Grand Pianos Since 1979
>
>Piano Technicians Journal
>Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor
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>
>John Hartman
>The Universal, How-to, Hands-on Illustrator
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>
>
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