[pianotech] new Steinway casters on old steinway legs

[David Skolnik]

Dave L -
I'm still confused about a few things:
you say this is a 1920's O, but that the Darnell caster (Schaff 596A) 
is an easy retro.  That can't be the original caster, I'm sure.  That 
would have been one of the 'Faultless' style, on page 151.  Also, the 
stem on 596A is Darnell's 'O' stem, as opposed to their "M" stem, (as 
on Schaff 2591 and 2592).  The socket, whether square or round, would 
have been the pressed steel, not the heavier, cast version.

If you think that a nickle version of the Darnell is what you're 
looking for, you should talk to them 
directly  http://www.casters.com/darnell_rose/contact/contact.html

More confusion:

You say piano won't be moved around, so why are you concerned about 
bearings rattling?  And if it is to be moved, on a wood floor,  are 
you sure you metal at all?

You say the bearings are sealed, in the new casters, so why would 
replating affect them?

I just saw some (presumably new) European casters that are like the 
ones on Schaff page 153  (similar to 2065B) except the wheel is 
covered with a layer of high density rubber, to protect the 
floor.  Quite elegant.

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY



At 10:21 AM 9/15/2012, David Love wrote:
>It's an O.  The floor is wood.  The bearings are dry and rattle and they
>look bad (the rest of the case has been redone).  The piano won't be moved
>around and they want nickel.  Don't have a picture handy but I'm not sure
>that will tell you anything more.  The Darnell brass casters (Schaff 596A)
>are an easy retrofit (square plate) as all you have to do is chisel out a
>bit of the old round hole to make it square (easier than enlarging a round
>hole as William's photos demonstrate).  But they don't make that one in
>nickel so I'd have to have it replated.  I don't particularly like to
>replate casters because it tends to remove the grease from the bearings and
>then they rattle which is part of the problem in the first place.  Thus my
>question about the Steinway nickel plated casters.  I think William answered
>what's necessary on that one but since I don't have the piano in the shop
>it's bit difficult to get it done that way.
>
>David Love
>www.davidlovepianos.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of David Skolnik
>Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 6:38 AM
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] new Steinway casters on old steinway legs
>
>David L -
>A couple of questions:
>- What size piano?
>- What kind of floor surface?
>- Why do casters need replacing?  Appearance?  Rust?
>- Is piano intended to be easily movable?
>
>I could see an issue if you were perhaps trying to install a set of double
>rubber casters into what had been an inset single metal wheel.  Could you
>provide a bit more info and maybe a picture?
>
>David Skolnik
>Hastings on Hudson, NY
>
>
>At 10:30 PM 9/14/2012, you wrote:
> >Have to replace some old casters (Steinway 1920s) with new ones.
> >Request is for nickel plated.  Does anyone have experience with the
> >nickel plated casters from Steinway and how they fit in these 1920's
> >sockets, how much retrofitting needs to be done etc.  The other option
> >is to buy brass ones from the supply house which I know can be fitted
> >with minimal chiseling and plate them but prefer not to have to go
> >through the plating procedure if possible.  Have not had the experience
> >of fitting current Steinway nickel casters in old Steinway leg sockets
> >and the piano, of course, is not in my shop.
> >
> >Anyone with a similar experience?
> >
> >David Love
> >www.davidlovepianos.com