<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The 5’ 6” Bauer I did in 1996 had exactly the configuration Del describes, although I did not know that it was crown adjustable either. Really nice, full bodied sound. A solid citizen of the piano world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Crown <i>could </i>be a problem. After about 200 years. And the piano would still be around too. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Will<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Delwin D Fandrich<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 04, 2011 11:31 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Julius Bauer finished<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>Look down underneath. The parameter of the soundboard panel is affixed to a laminated inner rim. On my nine-footer there was a wood strip on top of the soundboard panel that sistered this inner rim and this was butted up against and was attached to the bottom of the plate. There was a more-or-less standard set of plate screws/bolts (I don’t remember which) coming down through the top of the plate, through the soundboard panel and into the inner rim. All fairly normal. But…there was a large gap of about 20 to 25 mm (give-or-take) the outside of the inner rim and extensions of the plate. There was a plate lip, or flange, that extended down 100 to 125 mm all around the outside of the plate (and it was a full-parameter plate). About half-way down there was a series of what looked like square-headed lag screws inserted into the sides of the inner rim. Their heads butted up against the iron plate flange. By backing these lag screws out pressure would be exerted against the inner rim which would then rotate some. Because the rib system was so stiff—what with the sistered ribs top and bottom—you could actually alter the crown of the board slightly. At least with the strings removed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>I discovered the purpose of these lags by accident. Before I removed the original strings I had a couple of buzzes to track down. I found a very slight gap between a couple of these screws and the plate flange. I reached up with a wrench and backed them out a bit and the buzzes went away. Their purpose became clear with a bit of pondering. When I had the strings off I experimented a little. Quite fun. Ultimately I found the patent in which Bauer explained their purpose; also quite fun. I was never sure just how they should be adjusted so—since crown was definitely <i>not</i> a problem with this soundboard system—with the strings out I turned them all in until there was a visible gap and then backed them out until they just touched. Firmly, but not enough to make anything move. The idea was that as the strings loaded the board the inner rim would want to rotate and would cause the bolt heads to press hard against the plate keeping everything reasonably stable and quiet. Seemed to work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'>ddf<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Delwin D Fandrich</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Piano Design & Fabrication</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'>6939 Foothill Court SW, </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#632423'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:#632423'><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dale Erwin<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 04, 2011 7:48 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Julius Bauer finished<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:navy'>I'm thinking I would have seen it but nothing jumps out at me. Is it a stealth feature. :)<br>Dale<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div id="AOLMsgPart_2_fb18e97f-8cd4-4afd-98be-680620aef430"><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Because of the dual, sistered ribs the soundboard was in pretty much the same condition it was in the day after it was constructed. I can’t imagine this soundboard changing over the years no matter the environment. <b><u>The Bauer, by the way, had the only system I’ve ever seen that actually could alter the crown of the soundboard assembly after the piano was built. Dale, have you looked to see if your piano has this feature?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> </span></u></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>ddf<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Delwin D Fandrich<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Piano Design & Fabrication<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com">del@fandrichpiano.com </a>— <a href="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>