<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=us-ascii"><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'>Hi Terry:  <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'>Wim is absolutely right on this one.  He is saying this because he has come upon many a Steinway damper job where the old levers have broken at the pivot point or worn so much that they wander to the side, with singing strings the result.  Often many more than one doing this.  I have seen this many times, like Wim.  <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'>When I replace the dampers on a Steinway upright, I use something like the Tokiwa kit and always replace the levers.  Most of the time, I am replacing hammers at the same time, so I have the old shanks removed from the butts, and the butts screwed to the rail.  Like in the factory, I have easy access to the wires to do all fore-aft and side to side bending to space the dampers to the strings and damper timing for pedal lift.  If you are using barrels instead of the old damper heads, there is only one bend to make and refine for damper spacing.  It takes a lot less time to do than you think (that’s why it is a factory method).  With the barrels spaced out at roughly the proper distance (end samples each section, then a straight edge check), you go through and quickly make your bend to center the barrel over the strings.  Then glue your damper heads with felts onto the barrels.  Then refine your spacing and adjust for lift.  <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'>You will have the satisfaction of a good job that will be trouble free for a very long time.  I think you will find the damper bending easier than you think.  <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'>Good luck, <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 Truitt  <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'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><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>tnrwim@aol.com<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 07, 2012 3:20 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Replacing dampers on a 1908 Steinway upright<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 2.0pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>That's not going to happen. The less I have to do the better. And I don't relish having to bend a whole set of damper rods! No thanks. <img width=19 height=19 id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://tracking.technodesignip.com/?action=count&projectid=642&contentid=6566&referrer=-&urlaction=redirect&url=http://images.Quebles.com/hotmail/emoticons/1511517.GIF" alt=Confused><br><br><br>Terry "UniGeezer" Peterson<o:p></o:p></span></p></blockquote></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><br>Terry<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Take it from someone who has done this, on pianos this old, the wood is very brittle. The process of removing and putting the levers back on puts a lot of strain on that very thin strip of wood of the lever. But suit yourself. Maybe after you get a few calls backs, you'll change your mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Wim<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><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-bottom:12.0pt'><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-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>-----Original Message-----<br>From: pianolover 88 <<a href="mailto:pianolover88@hotmail.com">pianolover88@hotmail.com</a>><br>To: pianotech <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br>Sent: Mon, Feb 6, 2012 6:42 pm<br>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Replacing dampers on a 1908 Steinway upright<o:p></o:p></span></p><div id="AOLMsgPart_1_1ee86910-363b-4075-ab9e-c4fab83e50e5"><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>That's not going to happen. The less I have to do the better. And I don't relish having to bend a whole set of damper rods! No thanks. <img border=0 width=19 height=19 id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://tracking.technodesignip.com/?action=count&projectid=642&contentid=6566&referrer=-&urlaction=redirect&url=http://images.Quebles.com/hotmail/emoticons/1511517.GIF" alt=Confused><br><br><br>Terry "UniGeezer" Peterson<br>"Over 50, and not '2' Tired!" <br><a href="http://unigeezer.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.unigeezer.com</b></a><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center id=stopSpelling></span></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>From: <a href="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com">tnrwim@aol.com</a><br>Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:17:51 -1000<br>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a><br>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Replacing dampers on a 1908 Steinway upright<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Terry<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>In addition to replacing the felts, I would highly recommend that you also replace the levers. My experience ha shown that they get weak where they are screwed to the flange, and you might as well replace them now, instead later.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Wim<br><br>Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><br>On Feb 6, 2012, at 2:49 PM, pianolover 88 <<a href="mailto:pianolover88@hotmail.com">pianolover88@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I"m replacing worn hammers and *dampers* on a client's old Steinway upright, circa 1908. Having never replaced dampers on this particular model, I was unaware that--apparently--replacing dampers on this piano is a NIGHTMARE, and one of the most difficult damper jobs of ANY piano, either upright or grand. Is this true? This gloomy scenario was communicated to me by a tech who works at a local piano supply house, but I'd rather not mention who. <br><br>I was told that the felts, especially the treble, are 'tapered' and that you must "peel little layers off as you work your way up", or they won't lift properly, and won't dampen correctly. Basically I was told that ALL the dampers are almost impossible to get right with modern day replacements, without significant modification. Pics attached are from the action showing the dampers. I would appreciate ANY advice the forum member may have, and what you might suggest, short of declining the job!<br><br>PS: Brooks LTD told me that the Tokiwa TDVK damper kit (pic also attached) would work well. Your thoughts on this would also be appreciated.<br><br>Thanks,<br><br>Terry "UniGeezer" Peterson<br>"Over 50, and not '2' Tired!" <br><a href="http://unigeezer.com/" target="_blank"><b>www.unigeezer.com</b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><DSC02116.JPG><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><DSC02117.JPG><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><DSC02118.JPG><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><DSC02114.JPG><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><tvdk.jpg><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>