<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1226" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue> <DIV>Tom:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I too have an 1887 Screw Stringer that I have had in my home for 30 years.  I did replace hammers at one time and it is amazing how well it stays in tune for years at a time.  It also did not have the tuning tool so I got the Schaff one which doesn't work very well.  For one thing the socket is too thick to get between some of the tuning screws.  I'd love to see what you have done to make a better tool.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>dave *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 9/5/2003 at 9:43 AM Tom Driscoll wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV class=Section1> List,             Years ago I took a free mason Screw stringer upright 1887 for some long forgotten reason.I’ve schlepped this thing around for years and with a small shop, I finally decided to recondition this ark.             Problem one was a missing tuning tool. Forget the little one in the schaff catalog. It works, but is too small and awkward for a complete tuning. I was able to assemble a tool from standard sears Ľ “ drive tools. I used a T-handle, 6” extension, Ľ” 12 point deep socket (6 point socket won’t work) and a wooden file handle.-Rosewood optional... I CA’d all the components together to eliminate to eliminate any wobble. Works great-Joe G. would be proud.             Back to the piano, it’s @ pitch and if it wasn’t a screw stringer I’d replace the bass strings-Not horrible bass tone, but it is a bit tubby. New dampers and the usual action recon, hammer shaping, regulation etc. etc.  Nice ivory, Ebony case, somewhat ornate.             I tune one of these  twice a decade ,but before long I had a reasonable technique worked out.Esentially pull it up and leave it a few cents  flat , then  whack it up to pitch with test blows. Thank you accutuner             So here’s my question: ---What do I do with thing?             I have clients looking for Yamaha U1 type- workhorse pianos, but this is more antique in look and certainly would not hold up to heavy play. I’ve never dealt in “Antique” pianos if this is one, and have no clue as to value. Opinions appreciated as always.             Tom Driscoll RPT                         PS I’ll send an image of my new tuning tool to ptg file link-I’m so proud !                           I  </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>**************** END MESSAGE FROM Tom Driscoll ********************* </BODY></HTML> <PRE> _____________________________ David M. Porritt dporritt@mail.smu.edu Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX 75275 _____________________________</PRE>