Dear list: My customer has a small Gulbransen grand, badly in need of action reconditioning and regulation. The knuckles are wedge-shaped. My recollection is that the pear-shaped knuckles were called Thayer knuckles. What are these wedge-type knuckles referred to as? Has anyone written articles on these obsolescent action types (even a simple compilation of company names and period of use, etc.)? Please, no flame wars if such action designs are actually Revered Historical Instrument predecessors; this Gulbransen is no Broadwood or Pleyel, that's for sure. It plays like a truck. New key bushings, wippen cloth, hammer filing, and regulation should get it in good enough shape that the customer's children can continue taking lessons without giving up in frustration. Unfortunately the scale of this very short instrument can't produce a very appealing tone, even if this work is done to the action. But *sigh* they're too busy renovating their mansion to buy a more appropriate instrument! Thanks for "listening", Patrick Draine Billerica, MA
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