<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue id="role_body" bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> One thing you can do if you are concerned about the potential hazards of vertical hitches but want to increase the backscale length and don’t subscribe to the tuned duplex theory is replace the aliquots with strips of small diameter brass half rounds.  You can snug them up against the hitches and get a bit extra backscale length that way.    <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Erwinspiano@aol.com Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 9:02 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Vertical Hitch Pins, was [CAUT] duplex position   <div> <div>   Hi Frank </div> <div>   Good to hear your perspective. In the case of standard hitch pins & duplexes the down side is often too short of rear string lengths tying down the back scale,.  Obviously this is  news but when the standard hitch array/duplex  is retained using an adjustable plate elevation system addresses most of the issue regarding future adjustability of down bearing. & of course the nose bolts on Steinways & other pianos with less rigid plates than M& H can be adjusted slightly up or down  with a positive change in bearing pressure. </div> <div>   SO your warnings are good food for thought.  I can imagine myself installing new vertical hitch pins in a clients Priceless Steinway & having the plate crack.( & the ensuing debacle) Although it's probably highly unlikely still gives me little comfort. </div> <div>   To each there own </div> <div>   Dale </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> Since setting bearing was deferred until after the string is drawn to full tension, there is a wide margin of error.  I remember pianos soundboards failing with a loud bang, the soundboard pulling up, and breaking free from the belly rail in the high treble.  This would never have happened with traditional hitch pins. Finally, vertical hitch pins open the piano to devastating results from unknowledgeable techs making misguided changes in down bearing.  I hate to say this on a piano tech list, but I have seen the results of such misguided movement of the strings on vertical hitch pins.   I would prefer to permanently set the bearing in the manufacturing process, in a way that cannot be compromised by well-meaning, but misguided techs. Frank Emerson </blockquote> </div> <div>   </div> <div>   </div> <div> Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations 4721 Parker rd Modesto, Ca. 95357 Shop 209-577-8397 Web site <a href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</a> Restoration & Sales of Steinway & Sons & other fine pianos. " Soundboards by Design" </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> Start the year off right. <a href="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489" target="_blank" title="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489">Easy ways to stay in shape</a> in the new year. </div> </div> </body> </html>