Knabe Tuning Mystery

[Carlos Ralon]

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Responding to Tim Cole;=20
I did drill the T P holes in the block deeper to accept 2/0x2 3/8 pins.  =
This piano also now has all new hammers, shanks, dampers. It was =
necessary to use the original butts due to unavailability, however =
several replacement butts and flanges were custom made by PTG'r P. =
Nehlson.  The beautiful rosewood case is stripped and awaiting =
refinishing. The original ivories will require buffing and be retained.  =
Good luck with yours.
Carlos Ralon, RPT
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Thomas Cole=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 1:36 PM
  Subject: Re: Knabe Tuning Mystery


  Thanks, Carlos, a person with actual experience!

  I'm only considering restringing because of breakage in the high =
treble. No pigeon patina or soundboard damage, block is tight, action =
great except it could use new hammers. But I can see that I'll have to =
eliminate as much as possible the climatic changes.

  Did you drill the holes deeper for the new pins?

  Tom Cole

  Carlos Ralon wrote:

    I am just finishing a full restoration on a 1893 Knabe 57" upright.  =
Why the tuning instability?  This model Knabe is VERY suseptible to temp =
and humidity change.  Only because of personal reasons did I take on =
this job.  In other words it's a freebe for the steaming historic =
Liberty museum ship, the S.S. John W. Brown.  Both ship and piano built =
in Baltimore.  The 3/4 plate flange is tightly wedged beneath the pin =
block, and is wraped under the piano bottom and screwed there. I think =
this plate and S.B. configuration does not allow for much movement due =
to climatic change.  I discovered this piano in a wharehouse on a =
Baltimore dock next to the ship.  It had been there since WW II covered =
with what pidgens do.  The tuning was still near 435 and the pins were =
tight. However the SB was split pulling the ribs loose.  One should note =
that this era Knabe used #1 by only 2" tuning pins, take care what size =
you re-install.  We have replaced the sound board and the bass pin =
block.  The bridges were fine.  We had to remove the bass side of the =
case to get the extremely tight fitting plate out of the piano.
    The action has a double stack with rocker capstans and is very hard =
to find action parts.  After stringing and kept in proper climate =
conditions the tuning is very stable at A440 with a booming tone some =
grands would like to have.  I've had the piano in my shop for about 4 =
years, working between the pay jobs.  IMO this type of job should never =
be undertaken with profit in mind. Maybe before I check out, this old =
veteran ship of WW II  will get a nice piano for her crew and passangers =
as she visits ports along the Atlantic coast.  Visit it at =
www.liberty-ship.com.=20
    Carlos Ralon, RPT 
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