---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Well, it's time for a little catch-up on the Steinway Mystery Action. Phil Ford's pictures from the patent were MOST helpful, both in identifying it as an actual in-house Steinway action, and in seeing a little better how it works. It answers Conrad's question about it perhaps being a trial of a competitor's action which escaped the factory (no). I can't yet answer Bill Ballard about how much of a problem the buried rocker causes, because Marcia and I only got a few minutes with it (we were there assessing the broken lid [another thread]). The interesting feature seems to be the attempt to make the touch as light as possible, by counter-springing the hammer, and having no wippen. How well this works at its best I don't yet know. Do I remember some discussion some time back wondering about springing the hammer? I e-mailed David Kirkland at the factory and asked if he knew anything, or if the restoration shop might have a feel for how many of these there were. He said "This action almost looks like a "throw-back" to the 1860 construction, because the earlier 1865 and simultaneous 1871 constructions already incorporated the Erard system. Between the years of 1858 and 1871 there were several Steinway Grand Action patents." I don't know if he asked Restoration, so I'm going to bug him again, and now it's got me interested in those earlier actions to which he referred, so I'm going to look up some of the patents (listed at www.steinway.com) in the Patent Office database (www.uspto.gov). Their site is partially down at the moment, which is frustrating. I hope we get to spend some more time with it. If we do, I'll pass on what we find. Barbara Richmond asked if we would work with what's there, or change to a different action. Even without word from the factory, my sense is that this action is uncommon, and historically important enough to conserve. I wouldn't consider changing to a different style of aciton. I would consider new hammers and backcheck leather, and replaceable things like key bushings. I'd put the old parts in a box and suggest they be kept with the piano. There are three broken shanks, which I would repair. Thanks to all who replied about this and about the Brown action. It was a great help. I'll keep you posted. Bob Davis ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/8e/79/8f/f5/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC