Wood and Brooks direct blow action

[David Chadwick]

MessageRon, 
I worked on one just the other day. It's the first time I've encountered one of these actions. The piano (Gulbranson) has loose tuning pins after being moved to many parts of the world N.Y., Ecuador, Hawaii, California and now in Las Vegas. It's on the books for a CA treatment after our monsoon season passes. Amazingly the soundboard showed no signs of cracks, separations and still maintains a small yet positive crown but the bass bridge has lineal failure along the hitch pin side with hairline cracks at each pin. My clients wishes are to keep the piano for a year or two until they can afford to replace it. I found the action to work adequately. The parts were all worn but the overall regulation worked well enough to a controlled sense of touch. I didn't care for the catchers as it gave a lumbering feel to the repetition. A sense of gap is the best way I can explain it. Some of the jack springs had to be replaced and I had to pull the action to access the spring holes. The screw type of damper lever contact seemed like a good idea. If I had my camera that day...................

Not much information here just my observations. 

David Chadwick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ron Boyd 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 10:13 PM
  Subject: Wood and Brooks direct blow action


  Last week I posted an e-mail to the list asking if anyone had information on the Wood and Brooks direct blow action. As of yet no one has answered me. I would also like to hear comments good or bad about this action. This piano (Gulbranson) was built in  the late 40s and is in very nice condition. 

  Ron Boyd - Milwaukee chapter 532



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