---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Mason & Hamlin did make a model "B". It was 5'4". Their models were a C, B, A, AA, BB, CC. They were 5'1", 5'4", 5'8.5", 6'2", 7', & 9'. Someone in marketing had a sense of humor. dave *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 3/18/2003 at 10:21 PM Ed Sutton wrote: Hi, Tim! This is encouraging. The loose pinblock is no surprise. It will sound better with a fitted and glued block. I do wonder how they managed to get so many tuning pins jammed in such a tight place in such a big piano. Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: Tim Coates To: College and University Technicians Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 9:46 PM Subject: Re: 1974 M & H B Hi Ed, I did some checking to make sure I have my facts straight. Tim Geinert (Certified Wapin Installer) did a 70's MHBB like you are talking about. He didn't do anything to the plate as you are talking. He says the tuning control is all right, but not wonderful in that area. He used Wally Brooks' thinned shanks, would recommend Ronson hammers (not what he put on), and installed Wapin. The piano is at a music school and now is considered the best piano they have. I am going to see the piano tomorrow. If you want to talk with Tim I can get you his email address. He gave me a good bit of advice about some of the 1970's Mason & Hamlins: watch out for the pinblock. Not ALL are glued and doweled. This MHBB had a free floating pinblock. It turned out the last MHA I did from the 1930's had the same thing. You can wedge and glue the pinblock to the stretcher to hold it in place as the plate comes out. Contact me if you want his email address. His home number is in the directory. Tim Coates Wapin Company LLP Ed Sutton wrote: Dear List- Has anyone on the list had experience rebuilding big M & H's of 1970's vintage. A piano teacher has a 1974 B in need of serious rebuilding or replacement. The action will need redesigning (there is nothing left of the old M & H action design) , it needs a new pinblock and probably wapin bridge pinning. The front bearing is ridiculously steep. Hell to tune and ugly, too. I'm wondering if I can grind away some of the plate or bearing bars to reduce it. The agraffes stop at G#3. I don't think this was the original B plate design, was it? Despite what amounts to a rape of a once wonderful design, there is still something magic in the sound of this instrument. If I do every good thing we can do for a piano, will it be a stable, dependable instrument, or will the problems start just to the other side of where I stop? I'd appreciate any words of wisdom and experience. Ed Sutton _____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________ ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/caut.php/attachments/20/5f/68/42/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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