<!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 6.00.2900.3354" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>David Love wrote:</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>>>So I'm pulling apart this MH BB ( 1970's) and when the plate comes out the<BR>pin block, which I bumped ever so slightly, falls onto the key bed.  Not<BR>secured to the stretcher or the rim--piano sounds pretty good too.  So much<BR>for the "circle of sound".  But I'm thinking, should I make this replacement<BR>block a full fit block or not.  Arguments for and why bother?<BR><BR>Thanks.  <BR><BR>David Love<BR></FONT><A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives"><FONT size=2>davidlovepianos at comcast.net</FONT></A><FONT size=2> <BR>www.davidlovepianos.com<BR></FONT></DIV></FONT></SPAN> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>David~</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also faced this decision when rebuilding a 70's vintage Mason & Hamlin BB (whether to rebuild with full fit pinblock). I talked to a couple of really well-respected rebuilders/consultants/engineers in the piano industry before attempting it. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>One said he had rebuilt that model piano with full fit pinblock and felt it had improved the piano significantly. (He also reduced the severe string downdraft angle).</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>The other said I should not do a full fit pinblock on this model Mason because the rim structure and particularly, the cheek construction were not the same as the full fit Masons of earlier years, that essentially on the 70's vintage models (Aeolian) the cheeks/ledges were not continuous in the same way with the rim, and were also a softer hardwood (poplar or mahogany, I believe, was being used in the rim and cheeks/rim arms, whatever you call them, of Aeolian BB's of that era.) He basically felt they would not support the full fit construction, and had some compelling reasons for why there might be serious problems if I attempted it. Apparently there were other reasons for not doing full fit in that design besides just saving time, because according to him the rim had been weakened to save money/time/materials as well. I ultimately opted to follow the advice of the latter, and not do full fit, because he happened to be an engineer/scale designer working for Mason and Hamlin at the time, who was familiar with the differences between the 70's and earlier models, and knew personally the design history and issues, and seemed very knowledgeable about all aspects of the different designs, including the history of the plate castings and when they were changed and why, etc. etc.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>If you want to contact me back personally I can give you his name and contact info, (as well as the name of the person who said it was okay! )</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then you can decide who you trust more!</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hope this helps.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=386165609-04082008><FONT face=Arial size=2>~Kendall Ross Bean</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=left> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=533361603-16112007>PianoFinders</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=533361603-16112007><A title=http://www.pianofinders.com href="http://www.pianofinders.com/">www.pianofinders.com</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=533361603-16112007>e-mail: <A title=mailto:kenbean@pianofinders.com href="mailto:kenbean@pianofinders.com">kenbean@pianofinders.com</A></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=533361603-16112007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=533361603-16112007><EM>Connecting Pianos and People</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>