Birdcage Tech, Baldwin String Breakage

[Frank Emerson]

When Harold Conklin was pioneering research on inharmonicity, he came up with a method for designing bass strings with the intent of reducing inharmonicity.  Unfortunately, the result was a smaller-than-usual core wire, and consequently a higher percent of breaking point.  It generally was not enough to present a problem in "normal" usage, but in an environment with very heavy-handed pianists, it can be a big problem.  When I was at Baldwin, I designed a special set of bass strings for each current grand model.  We jokingly referred to these as "bullet-proof" bass strings.  When tech support encountered chronic cases of string breakage, they would provide these strings as replacements.  If they are routinely that heavy-handed, what do they care about inharmonicity?  I would be curious to know if you were to call Baldwin tech support today, and asked for their "bullet-proof" bass strings, if they would know what you were talking about.  If they no longer have these available, I'd go to James Arledge.  He can fix you up with a set of bass strings that will be less fragile.

Frank Emerson
pianoguru at earthlink.net


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 2/27/2007 12:10:28 PM 
Subject: Birdcage Tech, Baldwin String Breakage


Does anyone know of a piano tech who is willing to work on a Danish birdcage/overdamper piano in Seattle?  I was able to tune the piano, but it's "near the end of its wear cycle" and I don't want to get involved with repairing it.  Not much wrong with it yet, but it's old, of course.

Second and unrelated, I had a weird multiple string breaking experience recently.  It's about a 6' Baldwin grand, with a hidden (haven't found it yet) serial number, looks pretty new.  It's one of those Baldwins where it's hard to get the pin to move without moving your hammer much greater than usual, but you gotta do it for the sake of stability.

On my first visit there almost a year ago, it presented with a broken string, a bichord near the top of the bass.  I replaced it, and tuned the piano (and later replaced it with a pair of custom strings).  

When I came back a few weeks ago, two strings broke while I was tuning.  One was next to the string that had broken previously, one was in the high treble.  It really shot my nerves, the combination of trying to set the pins stably without breaking further strings!  And I was wondering, why so many broken strings on what looked like a pretty new piano?

In the checking around I've done, the two most likely suggestions seem to be that either the piano underwent some abuse (kids or prior owners- it was bought in an auction?), or the hammers might need reshaping.  I was also encouraged not to be too timid in turning the pins til I can feel the bottom move, thinking that if a string breaks it's better to do it when I'm there.

Finally, I could note I'm closing in on 500 pianos tuned.  Not the most experienced person on this list, but not a total beginner either.

Thanks for any help on either of these issues.  Broken strings really raise my blood pressure!
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