Bluethner Repetition

[Thomas A. Sheehan]

Avery - 

I like the LaRoy Edwards idea: instead of pulling up on the little curve
that is found on most springs, it is possible to massage the coil of the
spring open by placing the spring tool close to where the spring is held in
the flange. (The spring should be released from under the rep lever first.)
Then, gently stroke upwards on the underside of the upper "wing" - i.e.,
the part of the spring that presses upward against the rep lever. This will
open the coil slightly, and will increase the spring tension, giving a
faster rise to the hammer when it's released from check during the
regulating procedure. 

Alternatively, if the spring is too strong, massaging the upper side of the
"wing" downward will slightly close the coil, resulting in decreased spring
tension, and a slower rise to the hammer. I rarely find that I am pulling
on that little bend, even when it exists.

LaRoy uses the metaphor of a safety pin to explain how to add or remove
tension from the rep spring. He describes how the safety pin tension can be
increased or decreased by opening it up wide to increase the tension (which
opens the coil) or by closing it down past the catch on the safety pin to
decrease tension (thereby closing the coil). His point is that a rep lever
spring's tension is governed by the relative openness or closedness of the
coil, not by the curve in the upper wing of the spring.

Hope this helps.

----------
> From: Avery Todd <atodd@UH.EDU>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Cc: caut@ptg.org
> Subject: Bluethner Repetition
> Date: Sunday, August 03, 1997 4:07 PM
> 
> Lists,
> 
>    Does anyone have the secret to regulating the repetition on a
> Bluethner concert grand? It has a butterfly type of spring but
> without the little curve on the end to pull against to increase
> repetition. The spring is basically flat.
>    I'm about to pull my hair out. Is there a better way? Thanks.
> 
> Avery
> 
> ___________________________
> Avery Todd, RPT
> Moores School of Music
> University of Houston
> Houston, TX 77204-4893
> 713-743-3226
> atodd@uh.edu
> http://www.uh.edu/music/
> 
>