lesser of touch weight evils...

[Barbara Richmond]

Hi all,

Took a look at a Steinway A III (1921) today at a church.  The action had 
been rebuilt sometime in the transition out of Teflon.  The repetitions are 
Teflon, but the shanks/flanges are cloth bushed & have those dark colored 
knuckles.  The piano plays like a truck, but sounds fairly nice (I'm 
assuming the restringing job was done at the same time).  Of course, the 
instrument has just been purchased (a technician, not I, gave it the OK--I 
would have OK'd it, but mentioned the action) and there is either not enough 
money for a new action, or the music director feels like he would take a lot 
of heat for buying a piano that could use a new action.  I pointed out to 
him that he got a good price for the piano and investing in a new action 
wouldn't make their cash outlay more than it's worth.

The music director doesn't mind the touch, but he uses the piano for 
teaching and the students are struggling.

#     D     U
C1   78   30
C2   75   20
C3   65   21
C4   64   29
C5   64   25
C6   64   24
C7   62   23
C8   54   25


As you can see, the friction is high--I checked out the hammer flange 
pinning--some were a problem and some were not.  I figure some repinning, 
polishing and lubing w/Teflon powder will help <somewhat>.

I measured the knuckle/center pin distance and it varied from 15 to 16 mm 
with everything in between.  The16 mm was only on C8, by the way.

Maybe I don't have enough information, but here's the question anyway:  In 
an effort to do something that would help--if I were to use that handy 
Kaplan knuckle moving jig and install new knuckles at say, 16mm, do you 
think it would make enough of a difference in the touch, or would I just be 
spinning my wheels because of the Teflon repetitions.  Stupid me, I didn't 
have test parts with me (40 miles from home) and, of course, didn't travel 
with my Stanwood kit because I was told it only needed a little regulating. 
Lesson learned.

BTW, I used my new Edward's action caddy today.  It's pretty slick!

Thanks for your thoughts,

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, IL