<!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 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <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></BODY></HTML>