StwyGrand lid prop modification.

[Erwinspiano@aol.com]

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List
   Some where in the history of lid prop evolution  things have changed. In 
the beginning someone created the very loooong &  very singular lid prop. Some 
were as it seems, at least 6 ft long. Ok not , but  they were looong... As if 
to say this is a GRAND PIANO & the lid shall  be open! 
   However, I speculate that after decades of  parental frazzeled nerves from 
Jonnies piano lessons & singers saying  "Can't cha please play softer" this 
keen desire for an acoustic remedy found  it's way to the complaint file at the 
factory levels.
 The telegram probably was stated in terms something  like "dears sirs. Stop. 
We love your piano but, it's too loud. stop. We don't  like playing with the 
lid the way up or for that matter down either. Stop.  Please, So send new 
piano with a short stick attachment. stop This way I can get  my hymnals back out 
from under the lid. STOP!!
  So about 1920 something, the modified lid prop showed  up & the world was 
saved from a nervous breakdown,frazzeled nerves &  possibly an emergency room 
visit or two.
 Now further down the road we find many GRAND pianos with  as many as four 
different length sticks on a lid prop. I say Overkill, but  whatever.
  Anyway I do agree that the short stick is a handy  option & surely sells 
many more pianos as it can be the feature of the  year.  Salesman,"Yes mam ,Our 
new improved Shheckelberg & Sons Grand  piano has 7 lenths on our new lid prop"
  Any way as rebuilders & service people to the  masses we still have many 
great pianos out there , & not just S&S grands  ,with the yet to be modified or 
retrofitted lid props.Folks people are  suffering!
  The New factory props are thicker & look a bit like  steroids were employed 
&  also a bit shorter in length than  originals. Not nearly so elegant I 
might add. Yes, I've converted many a grand  to the factory provided new style, 
reluctantly, & I now I have these  beautiful spare original & graceful lid props 
laying around on the shelf  from the golden age when grand pianos were 
truly..... grand.
  I got to thinking about this so I decided to try a  conversion.
  If I could devise a simple quick & easy way to add  a short stick to the 
original I'd be happy. The original stick could be salvaged  & reused. I despise 
the gross & pathetic srew on brass  thingees. 
   I took theorigianl stick & located a slot 1/2  inch wide & about 9 inches 
long slot based on the approximate location of  its newer factory counterpart. 
I traced the slot pattern in pencil, decided how  deep the slot should be & 
then drilled out the material between the lines  with a 7/16 inch Forster bit. 
  At the base end of the long stick, where the short  sticks pivot is 
created, it is necessary to create an  opening  completely thru the long stick, for 
perhaps an inch or  more So the short end of the short stick's end has  
clearance in the open position. Easier seen the typed. You know what I  mean. Look at 
one.
    It's basically & simple mortising  operation. Once the meat of wood is 
removed the sides of the slot can be easily  straightened & trued up with a very 
sharp chisel. I used a one inch crane  neck to clean  up the slot. Any sharp 
chisel will do. Use wider ones  to keep the edges true.
    A new short stick was cut out of maple that  was 7'16ths wide & then fit 
it to the slot. This gave an elegant   sleek appearance that complimented the 
original. 
  I created the pivot hole by clamping the entire  assembly with the short 
stick in place in the drill press vice. I selected a  drill that was appropriate 
for a Stwy type lid hinge pin & drilled the hole  thru both pieces/sticks  
but not all the way thru the opposite  side of the long stick. The pin fits 
snugly in the hole & only the  round head is visible. One can easily mount it with 
a screw as well ,which ,is  how the new ones are ,but I chose this for now. 
All this took a whopping 30  minutes.
   A recess can be drilled in the strong back  to receive the end of the 
stick & lined with the appropriate color of  leather.
     Have fun with my new  Shop trade secret. Warranty not included.
  Dale Erwin

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