D pinblock separation

[Horace Greeley]

There is another explanation for this, which is that it was not all that
unusual for S&S (especially D's) of this period to have the plate in too
high.  Something I have seen repeatedly, apparently done in an attempt to
partially compensation for this, is that the stack was located much higher
than normal.  It was then not unusual for the hammer flange screws to jam
against the under side of the pinblock, and the "fix" for this was to plane
the pinblock for clearance.  The pinblock would still meet the edges of the
inner rim at the height originally frazed in; and the crosspiece/stretcher
in front was usually not affected, so would remain as installed.  The
problem with the plate height had to do with improper frazing of the inner
rim and (later in manufacture) the top of the pinblock when fitting the
plate into the raw rim.

In short, I think I would be checking plate height (nominally 7-5/8" at note
# 62, measure from the keybed to the under side of the capo); and looking to
see if the under side of the pinblock looked as if it had been
machined/planed after orginal manufacture (they aren't unless there are
clearance problems).

I would be very interested to know what you find.  I hope this helps a bit,
Ed.  With all that you contribute to the list, I am very glad to be able to
return the favor.

Best.

Horace



Quoting Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>:

> ----- Original Message -----
> >    I have just looked at a Steinway D, 1974 vintage.  There is a step
> > between the bottom of the pinblock and the crosspiece( cornice?) it is
> > supposedly
> > dowelled to.
>
> Please explain - a step? Are you referring to the stretcher
> (crosspiece/cornice)? You mean the bottom of the pinblock is not at the
> same
> elevation as the bottom of the stretcher?
>
> > The pinblock and crosspiece are flush with one another at each end,
> > with a slow rise across the center.
>
> Again, the crosspiece is the stretcher? What rises - the pinblock? Did
> you
> check for straightness? Do you know that the bottom of the stretcher
> isn't
> convex and the pinblock is planar?
>
> > All original, pins are tight, seems
> > stable. A few dead bass strings, but the sounding structure seemed
> good.
> > However, I wonder how the block could have done this, under the plate,
> > unless the
> > plate bolts are loose, or the plate is bending.
>
> Did you run a straight-edge along the top of the plate at the stretcher?
> Better yet, run a straight-edge along the bottom of the pinblock.
>
> > The potential buyers are
> > considering a new action, but will have reservations about more repair
> > than that, at
> > this time.
> >      Anybody live around a piano with this condition and if so, any
> > problems
> > showing up?  I didn't touch any plate bolts or screws, so can't say if
> > they
> > are loose or not.
> > thanks,
> >
> > Ed Foote RPT
>
> Sounds like some wierd stuff here - check to see whether the stretcher is
> deformed or the pinblock - if someone cut a crooked stretcher - maybe who
> cares then?
>
> Terry Farrell
>
>
>