<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3></FONT> </DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Erwinspiano@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> August 23, 2005 10:38 = AM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Baldwin Designs, etc.<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 = size=2> <DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  I have several comments about this. First = when you say drive them back in, I'll presume your not using a hammer?  right? <SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans = MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Right. I use an air powered = ratchet wrench.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT = face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN>  The other thought is if you 'all are using acu-just hitch pins then the type of = plate suspension system isn't all that critical as one can adjust the = bearing on the board without moving the plate, especially if the plate was installed = in a fairly reasonable elevation.  <SPAN = class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>This piano does not have vertical = hitches. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005>Yes, I am moving the plate to adjust = downbearing. Specifically, the area centered around the strut between the two treble sections.</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT = face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN>   If one is <STRONG>not</STRONG> using acu-just then it seems = to me  using a plate suspension system has a greater potential for functionality in adjusting downbearing after the plate is strung. = However. Even if an adjustable system is used with conventional hitch pins the lattitude  for lowering the plate has limitations.<SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Yes, it does have limitations. = Life, generally, has limitations. I doubt I could make a change of, say, 5 mm. = But I don't use this method to pick up more than one or two millimeters. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN>  The first being lowering the  plate  behind the bass bridge. A = small downward adjustment of the plate here can provide way more bearing = than is wise.on heavily tensioned bass strings, so the suspension system = is limited here unless bass string bearing felts .bars etc are readjusted = to higher location. Possible, but a bit annoying.<SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> <FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>I don't recall ever doing this = down around the bass section. But, let's consider those "heavily tensioned" bass = strings. What are we concerned with? String tension, unison tension or section = tension. I don't really care what the tension is for a given string. I need to know = the tension of the section. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT = face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN>  Also an adjustment at the highest treble plate bolt location also has = limitations in <STRONG>any</STRONG> system, as I see it  , the stiffness of = the plate flange bolted to the block & the unwise application of = to much rotational stress on same if that highest bolt is forced more than a = small amount. Too much here induces a continual strain that may bite back in = some form.ie. broken plate ,block pulled loose. But hey small amounts = are often all that's needed.<SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> <FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>You're quite right. Like most = procedures we do in rebuilding a piano, this has to be done with care and with a = certain degree of thoughtfulness. A bit of experience and an intuitive feel for = what is going on in the piano as you effect changes also helps. As I said above, = I don't use this method to adjust anything by more than a millimeter or two. </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT = face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3><SPAN = class=890012203-24082005> </SPAN> In my first encounter with using an adjustable Coleman plate suspension = system allowed me to apply much needed bearing on a piano that I had = miscalculated bearing load upon. That instance also required some shimming of = duplexes etc to get the desired tonal outcome in one section & dimish it it in = another & I'm happy to say in that instance it saved my behind & the = gnashing of teeth of course. The piano sounded grand? of course......<SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT size=3><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>And this, of course, is the whole = point: It saves wear and tear on the teeth.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080 = size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr><SPAN class=890012203-24082005><FONT face="Comic Sans = MS" color=#000080 size=3>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>