Thanks Willem,  Does that mean there are no longer that kind of wippen on the market? <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>Willem Blees <wblees@bama.ua.edu> Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org 11/14/2006 02:04 PM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: [CAUT] Tired wippens</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> <tt>Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4@unlnotes.unl.edu>: > Hi List, > > Here's an old question from a new CAUT:  When does one finally call > it > quits on a set of wippens?  I'm working on an old Steinway M circa > early > thirties with the tilted capstans.  I would doubt that the wippens > are > original, but they are definately OLD, squeeky and has substantial > amounts > of what Steve Brady calls "gradeau" (gunk) on the rep springs at the > > rep-lever contact/rubbing points.  They also are "dented" in on the > rep > lever/knuckle contact point. > > Although it is only in a practice room, we don't have ooodles o dough > to > replace the piano.  We can afford new wippens, or I can "doctor" them > one > more time by cleaning and lubing all those parts which would be a lot > of > invested time...Not much I can do about the dented rep/knuckle spot > though.... > > What do y'all think? > > Thanks > > Paul T. Williams > Univ. of Nebraska Paul If you can get the money to replace them, by all means do so. But you will also have to change the capstans. Perhaps that is why Richard avoided doing that in the past. The other thing to consider is that if you leave the piano alone, perhaps you can get the funds to replace the piano. I've got a couple 30's vintage M's and O's that I would love to throw out and replace. But I don't have any money, not even for new parts, much less for new instruments. I keep hoping that if enough students complain, somehow, someone up the line will hear my plea.   Willem Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician School of Music University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL USA </tt>