No Pinblock

[IgorKatz2U@AOL.COM]

	I recently tuned a Wurlitzer grand serial #119524 which was made in 1931.
When I looked to see what kind of condition the pinblock was in I was
surprised to see there wasn't any.  The tuning pins look completely normal
from above but when you look under the plate they stick out and their bottoms
are split with metal wedges inserted into them.  Apparently the pins are
machined into the plate.  The torque was very tight on all the pins.  One of
them was broken.  It looks to me that the wedge could be taken out and a
screwdriver could be inserted to turn the pin out.  I would assume the new pin
would have to be custom made at a machine shop.  Is anybody familiar with this
system and if so what do you recommend?
	I can't imagine having to restring this piano considering how tight the pins
are.  Maybe that's why they stopped making them.  It was nice tuning since the
pin movements were smooth.  You could pull the strings right to pitch without
any over pull.

David Porter
St. Louis, MO