FW: Eavestaff 'Pianette"

[Michael Gamble]

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Gamble [mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk] 
Sent: 06 October 2005 19:32
To: 'Jeannie Grassi'
Subject: RE: Eavestaff 'Pianette" 

I really MUST add this, Jeannie - When you've "done" this "piano" and
collected the cheque (or cash if you're lucky) you'll really know there
isn't anything worse out there! Let us know what you find and how you get
on!
Regards from a dark night on the Downs
Michael G.(UK)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeannie Grassi [mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net] 
Sent: 06 October 2005 15:40
To: 'Michael Gamble'
Subject: RE: Eavestaff 'Pianette" 

Thanks, Michael, for all of this information.  I now remember the discussion
from a few months back, but thinking I was glad I didn't have to deal with
one of those.  This sounds like something created as some diabolical scheme
to punish piano tuners.  Well, I guess I must have done something very evil
in my past and now my punishment has arrived.  The worst thing is that the
woman I spoke with said she bought it because she liked the looks and the
lovely sound.  God help me!
jeannie

Jeannie Grassi, RPT
Assistant Editor, Piano Technicians Journal
mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Gamble [mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk] 
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 6:51 AM
To: 'Jeannie Grassi'; pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Eavestaff 'Pianette" 

 Jeannie - this sounds like that piano I was talking about the other week –
one of the ones I elect to take out and burn. This wretched thing, if it is
with a flat top only smidgeonally higher than the keyboard, can best be
designated by whether there is a flap running the width of the ‘piano’ under
the keyboard – just about where your kknees are when you sit at it. This
flap, if such it has, is pulled down and open to reveal the other end of the
wrest pins (tuning pins, sorry!) That model of “Piannette” must need be
pulled away from the wall and the back taken off to reveal the “birdcaged”
action – though it IS an under-damped action! - the wires are simply
attached to the tails of the keys and pull up the lever (whippen) and cause
the piano to play (or not to play…!) Let me attach some piccies with this. I
had real trouble with one of these thingies a little while ago when I posted
my findings to the List. I found it simply would not hold in tune and being
that the tuning pins go all the way through the pin block and out the other
side on which end the strings are strung (backwards) Oh Boy! You’ve got an
interesting experience on your hands, Jeannie! They are also bi-corda strung
as well as overstrung. Do notice that the stringing when viewed from the
business side (the back) is all. . . Backwards! Treble is at the Left end
and Bass at the Right. The pins have to be turned the other way from the
back - but you can't get at them from there because of the bird-caging. The
stringas are also coiled backwards. Oh! It's a dilly! But I’ve been there
and am willing (as Barkus said – who’s Barkus? a character in a Dickens
novel…) to tell all. I had to CA those pins and the photos I shall append
show all… I hope you've got Broadband!
Having said all that, there is another remote possibility that it's one of
Eavestaff’s “liquor cabinet” pianos. They are laid out all as normal (Heh!
Heh! Heh!) – everything is attacked from the front. There is, however, in
these a pronounced di-hedral in the way the action is laid out. This is due
to Eavestaff monstrous over stringing. The hammer rest has a bend in it and
for the very top notes you’ll have extreme difficulty in getting the wedge
in there. You must use a Papps wedge for this thingy in order to push the
business in between the strings at such an angle.  You’ll find out! Ha! But
at least it’s a tri-corda normal right-way-round piano, unlike the other..
$%^&*(£! piano where you really need two people to tune it.
Here come some photos.
May the Good Lord protect you!
Michael G.(UK)

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeannie Grassi [mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net] 
Sent: 06 October 2005 06:23
To: 'Pianotech'
Subject: Eavestaff pianette

Hello all,
Can anyone give me any information about an Eavestaff pianette?  Supposedly
this piano was made in England, so I was suspecting a birdcage, but I'm told
it was made for Hardman Peck. This doesn't sound right to me.  Just had a
phone call asking questions about such a piano and I couldn't tell her a
thing. She also said it doesn't have a full keyboard and it looks like a
dining room sideboard.  Now that sounds like a square grand.  Anyone know
what she's referring to?  I'd appreciate some help.  Thanks,
jeannie

Jeannie Grassi, RPT
Assistant Editor, Piano Technicians Journal
mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net                                             

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