<!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 6.00.6000.16587" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <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="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>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.<BR><BR>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.<BR><BR>Frank Emerson</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B><I></I>Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations<BR>4721 Parker rd<BR>Modesto, Ca. 95357<BR>Shop 209-577-8397<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">Web site <A href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</A></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"> </FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><I><BR>Restoration & Sales of<BR>Steinway & Sons & other fine pianos.<BR>" Soundboards by Design"</I><BR></B></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Start the year off right. <A title="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489" href="http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489" target="_blank">Easy ways to stay in shape</A> in the new year. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>