[pianotech] brass rail duplication

[David Skolnik]

Will -
I'm replying to your original post, as it was classic Truitt, and the 
stuff with Ron is just an unfortunate distraction   (Let's be clear: 
I don't think he is an unfortunate distraction, just the digression), 
but I wanted to comment on one thing and make more trouble with the 
other.  I'd be very curious to know how you executed that elegant 
chart that would appear as a failed Startrek transporter attempt if I 
had tried to recreate it here (I did try).

>Hasenjaegar Miller upright
>Old
>treble
>Difference
>tenor
>Difference
>Rail
>Rail
>Rail
>Measure bottom of bracket to center pin v
>0.886
>0.851
>0.035
>smaller
And so on, except it was actually spread out over a much wider piece 
of real estate.

Second, skipping over both the question of whether the errant 
measurements would be the cause of the action problems, the wisdom of 
undertaking the endeavor, or the range of corrective possibilities, I 
would note that, despite encountering a certain indifference to 
craftsmanly-strivings, you chose not to divulge the name of the 
enterprise.  My question, asked most collegially is: Why?   You don't 
seem to be making any false accusations.  What is the ethos that 
defers to such indifference at the possible expense of one, or more 
of your colleagues, going forward?  Would the supplier give a rat's 
petuties if you were to name him?  If not, what the problem.  If so, 
then that, or the threat of that should be sufficient to reawaken the 
craftsman within.

And besides, I'd like to know who it is, in case I have a similar 
rail to duplicate, for, as you or he has said, they're the only ones 
doing this type of work.

Again, this is entirely apart from the issue of your capacity to deal 
with what you have.

Just looking for trouble.

David Skolnik, RPT
Hastings on Hudson, NY



At 09:05 PM 9/11/2012, you wrote:
>To the list:
>
>A few weeks ago I sent two brass rails from a big old Henry F. 
>Miller upright to a supplier (who shall remain unnamed) for duplication.
>
>
>I spoke with the fellow who made it at the supply house.  I asked 
>him if he had a caliper or other means of measuring needed values to 
>assure accuracy.  He told me that he did not, said that he eyeballed 
>it when it was done, and he thought it was good enough.  Apparently 
>they have an indexing system on their milling machine that allows 
>them to duplicate rails without using measurements.  The essence of 
>it is that he has no reliably accurate means of checking his work or 
>whether or not the machine has drifted or worn its way out of tolerance.
>
>
>
>I sent the rails back to be done again, asking that they buy a 
>caliper and check their work. Their technician, not the same fellow, 
>called me to tell me that the he had measured the distances I had 
>given on the new parts with his caliper accurate to .001.  He said 
>both the first and second sets of rails came out essentially the 
>same, and varied from the original by 3 or 4 thousandths.  So he 
>thought my caliper was suspect.
>
>
>
>We argued about who was right for a while.  He thought it was 
>sufficiently accurate, they had been doing this for 50 years, and 
>they had never had any problems before. He told me I should be able 
>to make it work and besides, what other choice do I have, since 
>nobody else makes them?
>
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Will Truitt

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