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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>I'm remanufacturing one of the early
Type I (85-note, 8' 5") grands right now. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>There was no sign of
stretcher/pinblock structural failure. In this case the customer and I opted to
install a pair of pinblock inserts rather than remove the whole assembly and
build up a complete new pinblock assembly. I'm still debating whether or not to
install some type of gap-spacer to help carry the load. Once I get the major
action parts installed and back in the case I'll see how much room is available
and decide at that time.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>This instrument is getting a complete
redesign--new soundboard & rib design, new bridges, new scale, new action,
etc.--and, based on previous work on these instruments, I'm confident the
results will be worthwhile. A caution is in order here: These pianos originally
had relatively low-tensioned string scales and they should stay that way. I'm
actually removing some tension from the scale of the piano I'm currently doing.
The piano now has a new tenor/treble bridge and a log scale. As a result a
significant hump in the middle of the tenor section has been smoothed out.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>No attempt should be made to make
these pianos into modern powerhouse instruments. Properly redesigned and rebuild
they are wonderful pianofortes. They cannot be made into
fortes.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><FONT
face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 size=3>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=093374519-17012007><!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<P><FONT size=2>Delwin D Fandrich<BR>Piano Design & Fabrication<BR>620 South
Tower Avenue<BR>Aberdeen, Washington 98520 USA<BR>Phone
360.736-7563<BR><<A
href="mailto:fandrich@pianobuilders.com">mailto:fandrich@pianobuilders.com</A>><BR><<A
href="http://www.pianobuilders.com/">http://www.pianobuilders.com</A>><BR></FONT></P></SPAN></DIV><BR>
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style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> caut-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Bdshull@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> January 17, 2007 9:21 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
caut@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Steinway Style II
questions<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Hi, David,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I've inspected a bunch of these in my early Steinway grand research, and
rebuilt one myself.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The exposed block is what's nice about the early 7'2" "Style II" (many
7'2"s were "Style 1" before 1872). Ed Foote refers to the pinblock
tipping, and some I've found are so tight the action can't be easily
removed; others are original and still fine! I used a cold
roll steel bar between the two front stretcher/pinblock bolts,
FWIW. Fit of pinblock to plate at the flange is
critical too. There is very little horizontal plate support, only a
little at the flange; no struts or webbing whatever.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Action conversions were often done by the factory at a later date.
Capstan use began in 1875 by Steinway and many actions were converted - often
the entire wood frame and in some cases non-Erard action was
replaced - this was done earlier too, before capstans. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I've found large amounts of lead too; many times it's obviously
installed later, but Steinway was struggling with geometry; the keystick
ratio varied from 62% to 70%, and didn't begin to approach the 2-1 ratio until
1880 (from what I've measured so far). Steinway's key front weight
was pretty high on actions during this period. So one of the
biggest challenges is getting the action to play without feeling like it has
too much inertia. Theodore clearly struggled with it because he came up
with such a uniquely designed action to solve this problem in the
1871. Though most of these have also been replaced with the modern
repetition action by the factory, one exists in the 1872 6'8" in the William
Seward House in Auburn NY; this piano has at most two leads in the bass,
mostly only one lead per key, and it has a "balance spring." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Once you have had a good look at these early actions you begin to
understand how poor Anton Rubenstein might have felt at the end of his
long American concert tour in the early 1870s. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I do an all-day seminar on the early Steinway grand and would be happy to
accept an invitation to your chapter if arrangements could be
made. I give the two-class version at the CA State
Conference this February 8-11 also.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bill Shull</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> In a message dated 1/17/2007 3:00:55 AM Pacific Standard Time,
davidskolnik@optonline.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
face=Arial>Greetings -<BR>Ideally I'd like to hear from those who have had a
good deal of experience rebuilding these pianos, but I'd welcome any useful
observations. The particular type in question is an 85 note, 3/4 plate
(exposed block, angled face), overstrung, agraffes to note 85, originally
rocker action converted to capstan. <BR><BR>Given that it is an
exposed block, do you alter your target tuning pin torque from what it would
be in a full plate block?<BR><BR>What are the tonal limitations of the upper
treble of this type (no capo d'astro bar)? How far could you / would
you go to address these limitations? This would probably best be
addressed to those who are doing innovative installations. Are there
inherent limitations in this design that would limit the effectiveness of
these modifications?<BR><BR>Were these keyboards originally heavily
weighted? I've seen one which starts with about 10 (ten) 7/16" leads
in A<FONT size=1>0</FONT>. On first glance (un-disassembled) they look
original.<BR><BR>Thanks <BR><BR>David Skolnik</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
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