Stumped

[larudee@pacbell.net]

Thank you, Tony.

I was hoping it would sound familiar to someone, and everything you say rings
true.  I'll look for what you describe when I next visit the piano.  I love this
list.

Paul S. Larudee, RPT
Richmond, CA

Tony Caught wrote:

> Hi Paul,
>
> Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but try this one.
>
> Two pins at top of action posts. There should be three or four screws
> through the balance rail into the key bed. There may also be screws in the
> key front bar.
>
> Looking at the top of the keys you should find slotted screw head marks.
>
> I have also found that is some pianos the back touch rail has also been
> screwed down at both ends.  Reason is that when the una corda pedal is
> activated the initial pressure is upward on the action post.
>
> Alternate is that these screw points generally line up with the keybed cross
> pieces (back to front), locate them from the underside of the keyboard then
> lift the keys up from the top at that position to find screws.
>
> The action and keybed are one piece, the action posts are dowelled and
> screwed to the keybed from the under side
>
> Failing all above the only answer is to take all the keys out and inspect
> for the screws.
> In removing and replacing the keys the stickers should come out of the holes
> at the back of the keys with a piece of felt on the bottom, in the bottom of
> the hole is a screw for adjusting the sticker height (same as key capstain)
> I have always found it easier to (when replacing the key) put the sticker
> into the hole before placing the key back onto the key frame.
>
> Adjusting the sticker screws must be done in the piano with the key frame
> locked down.
>
> Have Fun
>
> Tony Caught ICPTG
> Australia
> caute@optusnet.com.au
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <larudee@pacbell.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2000 3:57 AM
> Subject: Re: Stumped
>
> > Newton,
> >
> > Yes, the pins at the top of the action posts testify that they intended
> > to make action removal reasonably easy.  I didn't have time to look
> > under all the key fronts.  There is a small sticker attached to the
> > wippens which goes into sockets in the keys and makes key removal and
> > reinsertion somewhat more cumbersome.  (The stickers pivot sideways as
> > well as front to back because the hammer assembly shifts with the una
> > corda, but not the keys.)  I looked for buttons, dowels and plugs
> > (none).  Next time I'll check under the rest of the key fronts, but
> > there was nothing going sideways into the key blocks and nothing at the
> > back of the blocks either.  As far as I could tell there was nothing
> > under the key bed, but there has to be something somewhere, right?  The
> > whole case, keyblocks and keyslip are covered in a beautiful walnut
> > marquetry veneer, so I didn't want to force anything too much.  The odd
> > thing is that everthing seems to be attached to everything else.
> > There's no give anywhere.  Usually I can move something just a little
> > bit to see where it's attached, but this thing is like chiseled out of
> > marble.  Maybe I just need some open-ended time with it.  And yes, next
> > time I'll look behind the piano.
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestions.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > Newton Hunt wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Paul,
> > >
> > > Even in those days the workers wanted to be able to get the
> > > action out easily, for them anyway.
> > >
> > > I would first look under the key fronts, behind the
> > > keyblocks, sideways intro the keyblocks, and under the
> > > keybed.  I have seen screws installed so flush and painted
> > > the same color as the surround that they were nearly
> > > invisible until the light was just right.
> > >
> > > Look under any buttons or plugs, look FOR plugs (unlikely).
> > > It is also possible there are dowel pins somewhere.
> > >
> > > The keyslip may be removable, like an S&S but so tight it is
> > > stuck.
> > >
> > > They didn't leave instructions did they.
> > >
> > > >From behind the piano?  Nah, that is too obvious.
> > >
> > > Maybe the whole keybed comes out.
> > >
> > > Lots of fun playing hide and seek.
> > >
> > > Lot os luck.
> > >
> > >                 Newton
> >