<div>I completely agree. There was a noticable effect in the Becky with the rocker set-up. Very low friction and a very direct feel to the action.</div> <div> </div> <div>I was thinking this was some sort of retrofit, but it must have been done very early in the piano's life because the parts were as old and worn as the rest of the piano.  It will get a complete re-examination regarding geometry, etc.</div> <div> </div> <div>Thanks for the thoughts.<br><br></div> <div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 5:43 PM, Jurgen Goering <<a href="mailto:pianoforte@pianofortesupply.com">pianoforte@pianofortesupply.com</a>> wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">If there are divots from rocker capstans present on the keysticks, isn't that an indication that the standard capstans (and wippens) are a retro-fit and not factory original?<br> <br>Be sure to confirm the action geometry and lines of convergence (magic lines) on a converted action.  I have seen some real butcher jobs.<br><br>Personally, I kind of like the rocker capstans with the abstracts connecting the keys to the wippens.  They give a direct feel and are virtually friction-free.<br> <font color="#888888"><br>Jurgen Goering</font> <div> <div></div> <div class="Wj3C7c"><br><br><br>On Apr 18, 2008, at 15:08, Andrew Remillard wrote:<br> <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"><br>To any all experienced Bechstein folks:<br> <br>The patient is mine and is a spec rebuild so that is why I am only now discovering some interesting features of this creature. <br> It is a 6' 6" grand and dates from around 1898. A few years ago I rebuilt an 8' Becky from about 1929. In this model I found rocker capstans which attached directly to the wippen. (Picture how replacement plastic elbows work.)<br> Much to my surprise when we opened up this older model we found regular capstans.  Since my experience with older Bechstiens is limited, I just figured they used different configurations for different pianos.  Then when we started taking the action apart, what do we find but plugged holes and divots as one would find with rocker capstans! Then I take a closer look at the stack and am immediately impressed with how WN&G everything looks. No labels but I do find numbers cast into the sides of the brackets just like we usually find on WN&G brackets. The hammers flanges also look very un-European. That is no pin in the back of the flange.  However, with these observations aside, if I looked just at the apparent age of the parts I wouldn't think anything was amiss.<br>  <br>So...anybody see something like this before? Did Bechstein use a variety of action set ups thought the years? Even going retro as late as the 1920's?</blockquote></div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"> <br>-- <br>Andrew Remillard<br>ANRPiano.com<br>2211 Curtiss St.<br>Downers Grove, IL 60515<br>630-852-5058