Key Structures

[Alan Barnard]

Good reply, but I've left confusion, perhaps, by not including the following picture and by leaving the impression that it is the laminate glue that is rubbery, whereas it is, in fact, the key covering itself, a rubbery plastic that probably WAS put on with contact cement, or something might won't-let-goish.



Alan Barnard
Salem, Missouri

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Joseph Garrett 
To: pianotech
Sent: 06/05/2006 7:43:00 PM 
Subject: Re: Key Structures


Alan Barnard asked: "Four questions I can't answer: 

1. This is a key stick from an old Kimball upright which, judging from the trapwork, MIGHT have been a player, although there is no folding control bar in the front, just a normal keyslip, and no other evidence of "stuff" ever mounted to the case. Did some companies make piano models that could optionally be fitted for a player mechanism or just sold as a regular piano?

2. Each key has an extra layer laminated to the top, just the same length as the key covering (in this case a very tenacious, rubbery plastic), so it sticks up about 3/16" higher than the rest of the key. Wassup widdat?

3. Then there is the inserted piece below that, over the front rail pin area. Did they, maybe, cut the front rail slot all the way through the key, then glue on little caps?

4. And then there is the narrow notch, at the bottom just left of center in the picture. I've seen these before but don't have a clue what they're for. There is nothing different about the key bed, so what's with the notch? "

Alan,
1. YES!
2. I've seen this on other makes, although not glued with contact cement, (which has been around for a really long time.). I suspect they either didn't want to route the key blank on the top surface to clear the key cover, etc., so they made the "blank" thinner and then laminated on the extra piece. It could be that someone Steamed off the original Ivory and the Laminates came with the Ivory! (Yikes! Said they.<G>) So, being lazy and/or ingenious, (take your pick.), they put the laminates back on with that nasty Contact Cement. (BTW, I agree with Roger, on that point....Hmmm, that's a first!<G>)
3.What you need to know is that the keys used to be a great big plank! They Routed the front key slots, (and the sharps too, I'll wager), all the way through the "blank". Then they routed a slot to cover it on the Whites, (the sharp already covers well), and glued in a long strip.
4. Keeping in mind that the "blank" was a big plank, that "notch" is the routing for the key bushing felt of the Sharps. You don't see it on the Sharps because the routing for the front rail Whites bushing cloth was not on the same plane. <G> This is common on all kinds of piano key sets. (even mine.<G>)

You would understand all of this better if'n you ever attended my class on replacing missing keys.
Regards,
Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I
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