[pianotech] Old Upright Blues

[Roger@Integra.net]

Tom,
I've notice that many technicians don't like replacing loose pins with 
larger ones. I'm at a loss as to the reasons why. Can anybody explain why 
replacing with a larger pin on an old upright is sanctimonious. It seems 
like a quick and reliable fix.
Roger Gable

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas Cole" <tcole at cruzio.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 6:49 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Old Upright Blues


> Today's piano was a learning experience, a Melville Clark upright from 
> 1902. It started out, months ago, as a conversation with a 
> do-it-your-self-er who wanted me to fix his keyboard by regluing a few 
> ivories. He had "rebuilt" the action and just wanted me to supply and 
> attach some ivory heads. He lived way up in the mountains so volunteered 
> to bring the keys to my shop. Sounds easy enough but there was more to the 
> story and I didn't bother to think through or ask what I might ultimately 
> be getting myself into.
>
> I did ask about what was done in this alleged rebuild and found out that, 
> besides replacing the bridal tapes and bass dampers, he vacuumed out the 
> keybed (yes, including the punchings). Oh, and he wanted me to replace the 
> back rail cloth. Okay, fine, and today I brought the necessary materials 
> along with the recovered keys.
>
> To get started, I had Mr. Doityourselfer install new balance rail 
> punchings while I fixed some brass rail problems. Then I sent him to his 
> office so I could glue in the backrail cloth and ease and space the keys. 
> No key leveling or dip yet because I've never tuned this thing, this free 
> piano from across the street. Let's see if it's tunable now that it has 
> keys.
>
> I found 7 pins in the mid section which would not hold a pitch even though 
> their coils had been driven into the exposed pin block and several more 
> that were very loose but holding. I recommended restringing but this was 
> out of the question. The customer was philosophical about the outcome and 
> after collecting the check, we parted on a friendly note. I told him I 
> would give it some thought and get back to him.
>
> Personally, I'm not in favor of putting oversize pins on 109-year-old 
> strings and I don't see how super glue on the loose pins would work if the 
> coils are hard against the pin block.
>
> If you were in this situation, what would you do?
>
> Tom Cole
>
>