[pianotech] Thomas piano

[Norman Dutton]

Thank you all for the info about this piano. The article from the 
Mechanical Music Digest satisfied my curiosity about why someone would 
build a piano like the Thomas. It looks like the keys are a particular 
weak point in these pianos. All of the keys in this piano are working, 
though some repairs have been made to the end where the capstan screws 
in. Someone had glued a wooden piece to the end of the key. I did some 
investigation, not an exhaustive amount, and wasn't able to figure out 
how the keys connected to the aluminum keyframe. Evidently, there is a 
clip that holds each key on.

Even before I tuned the piano, I told the client that I didn't know how 
long it would hold a tune, due to the aluminum frame. The piano doesn't 
get a lot of use and was basically up to A440, which I found to be 
encouraging.

Norm Dutton

Ken & Pat Gerler wrote:
> Norm,
> "Many" years ago I saw one of these pianos and at that time the 
> plastic pivots in the aluminum center rail (in lieu of center rail pin 
> and key button) were failing and I turned the job down, so I never got 
> to the tuning pins to discover what kind of torque there may have been 
> in the tuning pins. Sounds like the piano you serviced was still in tact.
>
> Ken Gerler
> Gerler Piano & Organ Service
> 12425 Parkwood Lane
> Florissant(Black Jack), MO 63033-4662
> kenneth.gerler at prodigy.net
> 1-314-355-2339
> ---------------------------
> Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:37:13 -0500
> From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Thomas piano
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Message-ID:
> <OFE08EF4B1.1C8624DF-ON86257594.00762D78-86257594.0076B88B at unl.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hey Norm.
>
> When I was studying with Steve Brady, I had a '47 Aldrich console with 
> the
> dreaded aluminum plate.  What a great instrument to learn to tune
> on...NOT!  I figured after a while, that if I could tune that...I could
> tune anything!!  So far...so good! Had a decent Pratt-Reid action and I
> think the piano was actually a Cable, but don't remember
> now...'old-timers' starting to set in!!
>
> Please let the people know that with an aluminum plate, the tuning is 
> only
> good until I reach my car and drive off!!! <G>....or until the sun sets!
>
> Best luck
>
> Paul
> -------------------------
> Norman Dutton <duttonpiano at earthlink.net>
> Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
> 04/09/2009 10:54 PM
> Subject[pianotech] Thomas piano
>
> Hi All,
>
> I am Dave Ilvedson's not-so-newbie associate.
>
> Recently, I tuned a Thomas console piano for one of Dave's clients. Dave
> has not tuned this piano. The piano has an aluminum frame, and very
> little wood used in the action. It was mostly plastic. The way the pins
> "felt" as I was tuning the piano made me wonder if the pinblock was even
> wood. The label in the case said "Thomas Organ Co." Some of the parts,
> like the keys, looked like they were made for an organ.
>
> I am curious to know if anybody else has had any experience with one of
> these pianos, and/or has some insight into the company.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Norm Dutton
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>
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