Pinblock transfer agent

[Fenton Murray]

I think Steinway traditionally applied the agent to the plate and then at 
the end of the process went ahead and completely coated the block. The 
reason I've heard is to allow it to move smoothly rather than jump when 
under load.
Fenton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 2:02 PM
Subject: Re: Pinblock transfer agent


>
>> It looks to me like Steinway doesn't put anything on the plate, but 
>> rather, coats the front of the pinblocks and then begin fitting them by 
>> removing all the shiney spots that appear when the plate is dropped in.
>
> The thought has occurred to me. Still, a fair amount of the stuff remains 
> on the plate, and sticks to it better than dry or water slurry graphite. 
> Maybe they graphited both surfaces.
>
>
>>There is a lot of untouched surface on these blocks, but the graphite is 
>>all over the front edge.
>
> Sure is, but it's all over the plate flange too.
>
>
>> It also seems that extra care is taken to make sure the lower edge fits 
>> best,(perhaps to make it appear to a feeler gauge that there is total 
>> contact ?)
>> Regards, Ed Foote RPT
>
> Oh surely not! <G> I've often wondered what sort of QC procedures, or lack 
> thereof, accounted for what we see in these old pianos. The QC is 
> instrumental (sorry) in defining most processes.
> Ron N
>
>