Holly First, as I'm sure you know already, check to make sure there aren't any visible cracks anywhere, including the plate. I would go from a minor third down to maybe a half step down. If nothing breaks, then make a second pass at 440, but as soon as one string breaks, back off. The plastic action piano was a Linder or Rippon. Welcome to the underworld of pianos. <div style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician Honolulu, HI Author of The Business of Piano Tuning available from Potter Press www.pianotuning.com</div> -----Original Message----- From: holly quigley <hollyquigley@gmail.com> To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: Fri, 21 Mar 2008 6:11 am Subject: birdcage pitch? <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_8aecb67e-ee55-4504-a4af-2de1ab27df47>I've had the pleasure (har) of dealing with my first birdcage piano. It was, at my first visit, kid you not, a minor third flat. Apparently they bought it from a used piano dealer in Ireland, who said they "refurbished" it (another har). For one thing, the hammers were blocking against the dampers - ? After some inspecting and problem solving, I just shimmed the damper rail to raise the damper line up, and that at least got it playing. The pin block feels viable. The plate sure is weird, and it's straight-strung, not cross-strung. My only real question is what pitch are birdcage pianos usually tuned to? Is A440 safe, or should I keep it lower (although obviously not a friggin minor third lower)? Unfortunately I can't find the piece of paper I wrote the piano's info on right at the moment. However, if it's indeed Irish, it'll be the second Irish piano I've encountered to much frustration and chagrin. The first one was an almost entirely plastic action. No, seriously. Including the keys, including the capstans, screws, everything. Bizarre. Maybe they should stick to beer over there... -Holly Quigley. </div> <div id='u8CA599105A69106-1AF4-3F02' class='aol_ad_footer'><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Planning your summer road trip? Check out <A title="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000015" href="http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000015" target="_blank">AOL Travel Guides</A>. </div>