Wurlitzer Console Woes

[Dean May]

I've used concrete anchors made of lead. McMaster Carr (www.mcmaster.com
<http://www.mcmaster.com/> ) calls them Shallow Hole Screw Anchors. Search
on item no. 97041a011. I don't remember which size, but one of those sizes
will fit right into the plate hole. The first time you tighten it down and
it becomes permanent. Never had a problem with them

 

Some of those Wurlitzers can be very problematic with sluggish actions. They
just seem overly susceptible to the slightest imbalance of friction. I've
found that often the problem is the whippen center. On one piano I even
added weight to the whippen to get the thing to function. Good luck!

 

Speaking of Wurly's, I've noticed a certain era of them that seem to develop
loose pins.  They have exposed pin blocks on the top which show an
apparently good quality multi-lam block. But they didn't respond real well
to oversize pins (became loose after 4-5 years) and they don't seem to
respond as well to CA treatment as other pianos. I've got two (one that got
oversize pins in the bass 10 years ago) that I've CA treated 3-4 years ago
in churches with full dampchasers. While they are still holding they aren't
as tight as I'd like them to be. I'm wondering if the blocks were made of
some inferior wood to only make it look like a good block. 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 12:27 AM, Paul McCloud <pmc033 at earthlink.net> wrote:

Hi, All:

            There was a recent discussion about Wurlitzer console action
problems.  My customer has a sluggish action, where the slightest amount of
friction upsets the balance, and the key, won't return.  Also, someone
sprayed something on this action that's softened the wood.  Many of the
wippen flanges are loose and you can wiggle the wippens side to side.  I
took a flange off to repin it, and the flange split in two while I was
removing the pin.  I blame whatever was sprayed everywhere on the wood.
It's also made the a! ction centers sticky.   I may have to add weights
somewhere before all is said and done. 

            But that's not my immediate problem.  I need to replace the
action screws which broke off inside the piano.  You know the ones-  they're
buried behind the plate.  I got the new Grab-It kit from the local H.D. and
I found a Wurlitzer screw remover in the Schaff  catalog.  Anybody have any
luck with this?  I also need the screws.  I did find some lag bolts that are
the same size, which I'll use if I have to.  

            Any suggestions (aside from trashing this thing) would be
welcome.   Thanks!

            Paul McCloud

            San Diego

 

 

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