Proper wire diameters for treble??

[Mike and Jane Spalding]

Sarah,

Thanks for explaining your situation and your attitude.  You might be surprised how many on this list were once exactly where you are.

A while back I asked the list to point me towards the formulae and the reasoning behind them.  I ended up with a series of articles from the PTG Journal titled "The Calculating Technician", by Dave Roberts.  Articles were written in the pre-PC era, so you have to skip around the instructions for programming them into your Ti-58.  I'm nearly finished putting all of his formulae into an Excel spreadsheet.  I'll be "test driving" the spreadsheet on a Mason & Hamlin A I'm rebuilding, after which I'd be happy to share it with you.  But be sure to read the articles, they provide a lot of good info about scaling decisions, priorities, compromises.

Another resource is the book "A Guide To Restringing" by John W. Travis, available from the PTG.  It has the actual measured string sizes for a wide variety of pianos, but unfornately no Wissners.

Good luck, and keep questioning

Mike Spalding RPT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sarah Fox <sarah@gendernet.org>
To: Patrick C. Poulson <pcpoulso@pacbell.net>; Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2002 11:42 PM
Subject: Re: Proper wire diameters for treble??


> Hi Patrick and Ron,
> 
> Patrick: > Sarah: Are you sure about those measurements?
> 
> Yes, my measurements are all accurate at least from 21-68.  I less certain
> about my measurements from 69 through 88, as my micrometer doesn't easily
> fit in the small spaces, and I have not removed any wires for more accurate
> measurements.  My guestimated measurement accuracy in this range is within
> +/- .002" though.  In any event, I think I should see size variation from 21
> through 68.  Right?  As I understand it, I should be down to perhaps a .03"
> wire by note 88, which I am clearly not (measurement inaccuracies aside).
> 
> Patrick: > If all the tenor and treble
> > strings are the same diameter, then who ever did the restring job did a
> > grossly incompetent job.
> 
> The piano has apparently had some very good work and some very bad work.  As
> far as I can gather, it once belonged to the Metropolitan Opera (NYC) and
> was probably used in its youth as a performance piano.  In its latter years
> it was an opera coach's piano and was apparently pounded upon and maintained
> less conscientiously.
> 
> Sarah: >Perhaps someone here can advise me?
> 
> Ron: > I'll try. For the scaling, there are a number of us here on this list
> who
> > can work something out for you that will be considerably more reasonable
> > than what you currently have. As to assessing the piano in general and
> > determining a course of action for repairs, resurrection, and the recovery
> > from any other arbitrary improvements made with the partial rebuild, I
> > would highly recommend the services of a qualified and experienced local
> > technician and rebuilder.
> 
> >From reading this list, I have come to appreciate (and enjoy) what a
> technical profession this is!  However, technical matters don't particularly
> scare me.  I'm quite a techie person, and in fact I'm not a stranger to
> acoustic matters as a bioacoustician.  I have a glancing familiarity with
> piano rebuilding, having assisted in a couple of partial rebuilds and having
> done some work by myself.  Unfortunately all of my (limited) experience is
> with uprights.  Be that as it may, I'm no stranger to taking measurements
> and using mathematical formulae.  I would enjoy doing the measurements and
> calculations myself if someone could point me to the appropriate
> informational resources.  While I may not end up with quite as professional
> a job, it would mean a lot to me for my piano to be "all mine."  I have
> always taken pride and pleasure in maintaining repairing my instruments
> (piano, oboe, saxophone, clarinet) and have regarded them almost as my
> children.  Silly?  Perhaps, but that's just me.  I admit I don't fit the
> mold in numerous respects.
> 
> Anyway, where can I find the requisite charts, tables, formulae, and
> discussions?  I'm a quick learn.
> 
> Peace,
> Sarah
> 
> 
> 
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