On Sun, 10 Mar 1996, Newton Hunt wrote:
> This type of plastic can become so friable that a little squeeze of the fingers
> can crumble it beyond repair.
>
> It may be more effecient to replace the wippens. Do check the dampers,
> Newton
> nhunt@rci.rutgers.edu
>
I have learned from experience (both the aforementioned good and bad) to
point out, explain and estimate complete replacement of all of the
accursed yellow plastic parts. Yes, even the backchecks will fall off
like dying desert flies...even heavy breathing has been known to (well,
maybe) fracture these parts. If you stand well back from the piano and
gesture wildly, just maybe the client won't try to blame you for the problem!
Gordon
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voice 217.328.3975 304 N. Maple Street
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PIANOTECH Digest 242
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Otto Higel Co
by Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
2) Re: Otto Higel Co
by Allen Leigh <allen@pengar.com>
3) Re: Otto Higel Co
by Vince Mrykalo <REEVESJ@ucs.byu.edu>
4) Barb re; Plastic Jacks
by JIMRPT@aol.com
5) Re: piano action travel dolly
by jpage@selway.umt.edu (Jeff Stickney)
6) Re: piano recommendation
by fyonley@usa.pipeline.com (Fred Yonley)
7) Re: Otto Higel Co
by Paul Kupelian <kupelian@Oswego.Oswego.EDU>
8) 85 note pianos
by kam544@ionet.net (Keith McGavern)
9) Re: Barb re; Plastic Jacks
by Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
10) Softening Hardened Damper Felts
by Arnold <arnold@nando.net>
11) Re: Softening Hardened Damper Felts
by stanwood@tiac.net (stanwood)
12) Hazards
by johnsond@stolaf.edu (Dennis Johnson)
13) Re: Teacher discounts
by sethile@msumusik.mursuky.edu (Scott Thile)
14) Re: Softening Hardened Damper Felts
by twfic@netcom.netcom.com (Ty Fairchild)
15) Re: 85 note pianos
by Wippen@aol.com
16) Re: Otto Higel Co
by twfic@netcom.netcom.com (Ty Fairchild)
17) Re: 88 note pianos
by Pianocraft@aol.com
18) Re: Softening Hardened Damper Felts
by TUNERJIM@aol.com
19) Re: piano action travel dolly
by Wally Wilson <University of Charleston>
20) Re: piano recommendation
by Wally Wilson <University of Charleston>
21) Miracle Polishing Cloth
by "S. Brady" <sbrady@u.washington.edu>
22) String cans
by Tunrboy@aol.com
23) Re: Otto Higel Co
by Allen Leigh <allen@pengar.com>
24) Re plastic jacks
by hoplandr@cadvision.com (Ray Hopland)
25) Re: 88 note pianos
by Tunrboy@aol.com
26) Re: 85 note pianos
by kam544@ionet.net (Keith McGavern)
27) Re: String cans
by "Barbara E. Richmond" <brichmon@e-tex.com>
28) Tagamet time?
by Gilreath@aol.com
29) Re: String cans
by cjf@eideti.com (Charles J. Flaum)
30) Re Otto Higel Co
by hoplandr@cadvision.com (Ray Hopland)
31) Re: Miracle Polishing Cloth
by kam544@ionet.net (Keith McGavern)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 09:29:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
To: pianotech@byu.edu
Cc: Multiple recipients of list <pianotech@byu.edu>
Subject: Re: Otto Higel Co
Hi, Laurence. The piano was undoubtedly meant to be tuned to A-435,
not A-440. More important, however, is the fact this was a fairly
low-quality instrument, even when new. Conswquently, virtually every
OH player I've seen in recent years has had a cracked bass bridge.
It's difficult to see because the pumping bellows are in the way, but
check out the bass bridge carefully. If it is cracked, you're going
to have to repair it or replace it before going any further. Trying
to raise the pitch any higher than you already have, will only make
the situation worse. Even if the bass bridge IS intact this piano
probably needs much more work than merely it's hammers replaced. If
the hammers are shot, you can bet that the dampers are, too. And the
action will need a complete regulation, because players get the stuff-
ings beat out of them, and it's tough to find anyone willing to work
on them. Consequently, chances are that piano hasn't been regulated
since it left the factory. Further, beacuse players do get such a work-
out, it commonplace to find the entire action worn out, and in need of
major rebuilding just to make it functional as a regular piano. As an
example, you may find loose and wobbling action centers because the
bushings are worn out. If you can't find replacement flanges, you might
have to rebush all those babies by hand! PLUS, you're talking about re-
stringing it as well! The bottom line is that this instrument is too
old and it's original quality was too poor, to put the kind of big
bucks into it that would be necessary to make a useful musical instru-
ment out of it. Those dollars could be used much more effectively if
they went towards replacing this piano with something newer, and of higher
quality. How about the player mechanism? Well, if it's the "Metalnola"
action, you can probably forget about rebuilding it, too, because it's
not unusual the die cast metal valve chambers so badly deteriorated that
that the entire player action has to be tossed anyway. The later OH
player action was better and more conventional than the Metalnola, but
that's not saying a whole heck of a lot, the quality was still mediocre
at best. You might want to consider just tuning this a couple of more times,
resurfacing the hammers and doing some basic regulating work on the action,
so that the piano can at least be functional while it's owners start look-
ing for another one. Putting in the time and effort necessary to restore
this turkey will do little to bolster your professional reputation, and
even with your best efforts the end result is likely to be a disappointment,
bwcause the quality was just never there is the first place. Here's one vote
in favor of moving on to something more worthy of your time and talents.
Les Smith
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