[CAUT] Hamilton key dip

[Norman Cantrell]

Bob
 
For all its quirks the Hamilton has a lot of user friendly features.  First the Actio ratio is about 7:1 which will allow it to perform with some pretty shallow dip and a somewhat exaggerated blow distance.  As has been suggested check the blow distance and set it between 1 7/8 to 1 3/4.  Adjust the capstans for lost motion.  If you are unsatisfied with the dip the Hamilton has a floating balance rail.  There are hold down screws on the top side and support screws underneath.  The support screws are accessed via a series of holes in the balance rail.  One should loosen the hold down screws slightly before raising the support screws..  Check under the B flats to locate the respective holes.  Not always there but often pretty close in the neighborhood.  Use your dip block as a gauge as to when you have raised the rail high enough.  Entire procedure should take less than an hour even your first time out and will make a huge difference in the way
 the piano plays.  With a bit of tweaking elsewhere you can also get pretty good tone out of these beasties as well.  One of the most durable institutional pianos ever made.
 
Regards
 
Norman Cantrell, RPT

--- On Thu, 2/17/11, hullfam5 at yahoo.com <hullfam5 at yahoo.com> wrote:


From: hullfam5 at yahoo.com <hullfam5 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [CAUT] Hamilton key dip
To: caut at ptg.org
Date: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 2:48 PM


Does'nt less than .382 seem too shallow for key dip for a Baldwin Hamilton studio?  I don't have a dip block thin enough to measure it.   Jack is not getting out far enough  and has trouble getting back under on some.  Lost motion is plenty.
Bob Hull. 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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