<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1141" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>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.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>dave<BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********<BR><BR>On 3/18/2003 at 10:21 PM Ed Sutton wrote:</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi, Tim!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is encouraging. The loose pinblock is no surprise.  It will sound better with a fitted and glued block.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I do wonder how they managed to get so many tuning pins jammed in such a tight place in such a big piano.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ed</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=tcoates@dtgnet.com href="mailto:tcoates@dtgnet.com">Tim Coates</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, March 18, 2003 9:46 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: 1974 M & H B</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV>Hi Ed,<BR><BR>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.  <BR><BR>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. <BR><BR>Contact me if you want his email address.  His home number is in the directory.<BR><BR>Tim Coates<BR>Wapin Company LLP  <BR><BR>Ed Sutton wrote:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid008e01c2edb4$5bc94b10$fdacf7a5@yourpa86z1i3g7 type="cite"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear List-</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Has anyone on the list had experience rebuilding big M & H's of 1970's vintage.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    A piano teacher has a 1974 B in need of serious rebuilding or replacement.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    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.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    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.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    The agraffes stop at G#3.  I don't think this was the original B plate design, was it?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    Despite what amounts to a rape of a once wonderful design, there is still something magic in the sound of this instrument.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    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?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>    I'd appreciate any words of wisdom and experience.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>        Ed Sutton</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><FONT size=2 Arial></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML> <PRE> _____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________</PRE>