At 13:38 22/10/01 -0400, A440A@AOL.COM wrote: > I assume by "open" you mean split or shattered. Yes, this is quite >common. It seems that on Steinways built between the beginning and 1930 >Hammer rails would often split along the corners. I expected it was from the >stress of hammer screws compressing the rails onto ever shrinking dowels. >However, I have also seen a lot that were cracked at the bottom, so my logic >is suspect here.... The most common cause of split rails in my experience is ham-fisted tuner-repairers. First they overturn the screws and order the next size up, which they screw into the old holes. Next they overturn these and meanwhile the flange is getting more and more squashed. The final solution is to enlarge the flange holes and use the next screw size up. These must be tightened with two hands to make sure the flange gets even more squashed and the point of the screw presses hard against the bottom of the brass rail. It may be that swelling of the maple dowel alone can cause split rails but I'd say incompetent workmen account for most of them. JD
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