<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)"><title>New custom agraffe design</title><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Ron:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Nice pictures and info.  Thanks for sharing.  <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Are your agraffes something that you might be making available for other rebuilders?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Do my eyes deceive me, or is the steel plate sandwiched between two layers of brass?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Will Truitt<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><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>Overs Pianos<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 13, 2012 8:58 AM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [pianotech] New custom agraffe design<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I mentioned in a recent post that we were planning to manufacture special agraffes for our pianos, since I have finally had enough of brass agraffes which sometimes are capable of producing noise aplenty, at times even before an instrument leaves the workshop.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It took a while to get a result, but below is an image-link which shows a sample of the first batch of our special agraffes made from SAE 4140 alloy steel (this stuff is typically used for making truck drive axles). This sample has been hand polished and cleaned ready for Electroless Nickel (EN) plating. The plating is necessary for two reasons;<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal>1) To provide corrosion resistance<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal>2) To provide a suitable low friction bearing surface, since steel on steel is not good for friction.<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></blockquote><div><p class=MsoNormal>The image of the agraffe can be found at;<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.overspianos.com.au/ove.agraffe.jpg">http://www.overspianos.com.au/ove.agraffe.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>These agraffes feature an internal-hole profile which looks something like the hole of a doughnut, as a string termination shape. Provided that the string approach angle doesn't exceed 10 degrees, the string will always have clearance with the agraffe body, and will only contact the agraffe at the 'internal doughnut'. I'm really looking forward to hearing the first of these in a month or so.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The first batch will be fitted to a model D rebuild we're finishing off for Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and another 210 cm grand piano we're rebuilding, with extensive modifications, for sale.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I'm really looking forward to getting the 210 finished, since it will be fitted with the custom agraffes, a new capo and counterbearing system, comprising of a new V bar capo, and a V bar counterbearing bar 25-30 mm behind the capo (both V bars are hardened and EN plated). Also included is a 6-note tenor bridge (all bichords) with the agraffes relocated to preserve the hammer strike ratio, a new bass scale design, an action ratio revision and the inclusion of a set bolt at the bass-side-X, since it was left out of the original instrument - likely as a cost cutting measure. Overall, there won't be much of the original Young-Chang Steinway model B clone left in the piano. It will pretty much be our tonal character inside a 210 case (hence the name change to Overs-Beale). We're planning to sell it for around A$60K (FOB). A description of this piano, written before the rebuild commenced, can be found at;<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.overspianos.com.au/BG7.htm">http://www.overspianos.com.au/BG7.htm</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>A screen-shot which shows %-break scaling charts for a Steinway B, the original clone and our re-design can be found at;<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.overspianos.com.au/7ftgrd.tens.snpsht.jpg">http://www.overspianos.com.au/7ftgrd.tens.snpsht.jpg</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>An image in the bottom RH corner of the screen-shot shows overhead images of a Steinway B and the original Beale BG7 piano before the rebuild started. The similarity in the scale is obvious. The Beale case is wider at the back, which is no advantage, despite the fact that the current crop of designers can't resist widening the back. Generally the change only results in the differing distances of the bridges from rim to be even worse than previously.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I'll be adding in-progress images of the new rebuild to the website soon, in our 'pianos for sale' section.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Ron O.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><pre>-- <o:p></o:p></pre><div><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;color:blue'>OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='color:black'>   </span></i><i><span style='color:blue'>Grand Piano Manufacturers</span></i><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>_______________________</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Web <a href="http://overspianos.com.au">http://overspianos.com.au</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><a href="mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au">mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'>_______________________</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>A web page with images of recent work and almost-audio-CD quality mp3 sound files of the Overs piano can be found at;</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><a href="http://overspianos.com.au/more_info.htm">http://overspianos.com.au/more_info.htm</a></span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'>So put on your headphones, plug them into your freshly restarted computer and sit back to over 20 minutes of pure piano.</span></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='color:black'> _______________________</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>