[CAUT] Baldwin Lid Brace

[McNeilTom at aol.com]

Hi, Jon, and Colleagues -
 
Lockbar dimensions can be obtained from the piano:
 
Length = dimension between the rim at bass and treble minus 1/4 inch.   
Center this at installation to give 1/8 inch clearance at each end.
 
Height = dimension between the underside of the lid and the stretcher minus  
the thickness of appropriate rubber buttons.  (The proper thickness for  
buttons can be measured between the lid and the rim near the hinges.)
 
Width dimension is not usually critical.  Should be flush with front  of 
stretcher and not so wide as to interfere with desk slides.  (Perhaps  you can 
determine width from the "footprint" of the original on the finish of  the lid.)
 
Material should be a nice clear hardwood.  (Around here maple is  abundant 
and very suitable.)  Cabinet grade plywood is also a possibility,  perhaps even 
scrap pinblock material.  However, plywood will require veneer  to cover the 
exposed edge grain if you want it to look nice under your ebony  finish.  Of 
course, if the piano is brown, it would need finish veneer in  any case.
 
I would not bother with a lock unless really pushed.
 
The lyre braces could be made from hardwood dowels, turned in a lathe as  
necessary to match the style, or at least to get the ends tapered to fit the  
sockets.  (Don't be tempted to use a thin dowel to save the lathe work; it  won't 
be stiff enough.) On a Baldwin you will probably find adjustment  screws at 
the bottom of the sockets in the lyre.  Turn the screws down all  the way, then 
back them out a half turn before measuring for length.  Both  braces are made 
identical in length (interchangeable at moving time) and  adjusted by means 
of these screws.
 
Always fun to make new cabinet parts!
 


~ Tom McNeil  ~

Vermont  Piano Restorations
VermontPiano.com

346 Camp Street
Barre, VT  05641
(802) 476-7072
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