Am just beginning installation of a set of hammers for a 1927, S&S B. The hammers were bored by the supplier. Am surprised to see the hammer cores are not 90 degrees to the shank. They are tilted away from the keys. I am sure the hammers being replaced are original Steinway, reshaped more than once,and they look to be perpendicular to the shanks whereas the new ones are obviously not. Have only the action in my shop but know the keybed to string distance and have determined that the new hammers will strike the strings at 90 degrees. Am not sure the original hammers did. Am having difficulty deciding just where on the new shanks to put the hammers. It looks like the distance from the flange pin to hammer bore center should be 2mm shorter than the original to strike the strings where I think the original did when new. I know many of you can tell me the correct procedure which I can only hope does not mean putting the action back in the piano to solve the problem, but that would appear to be the logical procedure, in which case I will need to know dimensions of where the hammers strike the strings. Is it common to tilt hammers away from vertical to the shank to get best results? Have not encountered this before. I just started on this today so have not had an opportunity to talk to the supplier. I did try. Will appreciate your help. Travis Gordy
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC