<!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 6.00.2800.1555" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hey Dave!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Isn't it true that the wealthyt clients will frequently have a Baldwin spinet?  All in all, they're the only spinet worth any time....."No Steinway B here-- wouldn"t want "muffin" to use the leg much like a fire hydrant (if poodles can actually do that!) "  With any luck, it's an earlier model-- always check the bass bridge- and it has a chance.  By the time they got to the 'forks' at the end of each key and the elusive (and perpetually deteriorating) "wire-lifter-nuts", in the 70's- everything started "circling-the-drain":  Well, it's somewhat like a car that you "just-can't get-rid-of-that-last-rattle".  RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!  :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well, seriously, go into the service call with a flashlight, and any tools you might need to regulate.  IT CAN BE FIXED!  Check your spec's for the action, and work from top-to-bottom".  Drop<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>-actions aren't any fun to contend with, but the Acrosonic is about the most "technician-friendly":</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rather than pulling the action, use that flashlight to visually look for foreign objects in the action.  First, take up lost motion-- it's the single-most frequent cause of action problems- hand-in-hand with "hammer-blow-distance". .  Expect that if the  previous owner "played- it", it will be apparent when testing each note for regulation.  </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>Above all, make the piano the best that you can-- subject to the owner's willingness to " make-it-it's-best".  Frequently, these people are the type that have their "personal assistant" schedule a tuning every few months.  Other, equally wealthy folks on the same street ( MULTI million dollar domes) couldn"t give a rat's (you know what!) about a gorgeous Steinway "B" in need of attention to improve its value for the market, or for their "bottom-line".</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you think that the Baldwin spinet is bad-- come see my "rusted-solid" S&S B!!  I guess the whole mess is relative.  It continues to be interesting, and  inspires me to continue the tradition that preceeded us all---continue the fostering of the piano in society.  It is truly an honor to be a part of this noble sojourn!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Respectfully,</DIV> <DIV>Marshall Connolly </DIV> <DIV>(the OTHER Marshall)Original Message ----- </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=piannaman@aol.com href="mailto:piannaman@aol.com">piannaman@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, March 29, 2007 10:29 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Baldwin spinet "lost motion" issue twice in one week....</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><SPAN contentEditable=false style="DISPLAY: inline-block"></SPAN>...or "why I love spinet pianos!"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>First piano was in a multimillion dollar home.  A little Baldwin spinet, this one with inverted sticker type action.  The lady had purchased it for 400$ without any kind of consultation, and her husband and five if his friends had toted it up the stairs and into their castle.  I was tuning away, and found one note that wouldn't regulate.  Everything was there, but the lost motion ate up about a quarter inch of keydip.  I looked for things that might be wedged in there, but I could find nothing.  And I didn't have time to pull the action, having already spent most of the appointment pitch raising the pso and vacuuming out the various places where who-knows-what may have dwelt.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Second piano, a just-delivered rental piano, had the same symptoms--again on only one note--but it was one of the newer type Baldwins with the rubber grommets hooked into the lifter fork, and the plastic nut on top.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I checked linkage as much as I could, but could find nothing wedged anywhere on either instrument, though on the second one the connecter to the elbow was sitting up too high.  Very frustrating.  I explained to the owner and renter that this is one big reason why spinets in general should be avoided.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anybody experienced this?  Thoughts on why this might occur?  I'm convinced that there is something  wedged inside that I can't see or get to without yanking the action, but any suggestions are more than welcome!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV style="CLEAR: both">Dave Stahl, RPT but humbled by Baldwins again<BR><BR>Dave Stahl Piano Service<BR>650-224-3560<BR>dstahlpiano@sbcglobal.net<BR>http://dstahlpiano.net/<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></DIV> <DIV class=AOLPromoFooter> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> AOL now offers free email to everyone. 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