Steinway Style 2 (Modified by Kent Swafford)

[Richard Brekne]

Donald Mannino wrote:
> Kent,
> 
> I rebuilt one of those in the 80s.  It is from the 1860s, and the action 
> in the one I worked on had been converted to a tubular metallic frame in 
> the 1870s.
> 
> The pinblock on the one I did was exactly as your picture shows, so I do 
> not agree that the pinblock has moved.  The pinblock on this model is 
> morticed into the case sides, with the case structure built up over top 
> of the pinblock - which has hidden bolts down into the rim.  Very 
> difficult pinblock to replace, and pretty well impossible for it to move.
> 
> The plate struts do look repaired, and that is the correct direction for 
> them to crack, too - on top.  The pinblock may be high up in relation to 
> the struts, but the string plane is still below them. 
> As long as they are not re-cracking, those should be a problem.

Ok... but since you dont buy the pinblock rotation suggestion, you must 
have a different explanation also for the stresses involved that cause 
the strut to crack with the open side on top. Could you describe that 
please?


> 
> To remove the action, use a hacksaw blade. ....

Several have mentioned droping the keybed... I assume since that 
suggestion has been met with silence by both Mannino and Hartman, that 
this is not a good idea or perhaps not possible ... could we get a 
clarification on that as well ?

> 
> These are kind of nice pianos, but the action ratios are likely totally 
> messed up by the capstans.  It's a shame people put capstans in these 
> actions, because the rocker actions really perform quite well (once you 
> get them regulated!).

I agree about the rocker actions. I've run into several both before and 
since getting familiarized with Stanwoods way of setting up an action. I 
really dont see any reason why capstans should be installed on these. 
Replacing the rocker arm screws might be a good idea on some, but really 
these work well. With screws that turn easily, I dont find them a big 
problem to regulate. A bit more time consuming... but thats about it on 
the negative side.


> 
> Don Mannino

Cheers
RicB