<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4134.600" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- <DIV>From: "Farrell" <<A = href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com"><FONT color=#000000>mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</FONT></A>></DIV> <DIV>To: <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT color=#000000>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: October 19, 2002 1:04 PM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: Cut-Off Bar Attachment & Floating Rim</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>> Should a cut-off bar (also called a dumb bar, I think) be = attached to the backpost? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I truly dislike the label 'dumb bar' attached to these things. = Frankly I think it is rather 'dumb' (or at least ignorant) to not use an adequate soundboard cutoff bar in any vertical or grand piano design.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>></DIV> <DIV>>I have one that has one end on top of middle-fo-the-piano = backpost and the other end at the side/edge post. It crosses over another backpost. = It is not attached at all - although you could only slip a piece of paper in = between them. I should think this a possible source for a buzz. But more importantly, = I should think it advantageous to attach the cut-off bar as securely as is = possible, and anywhere possible. Is there any reason to have it floating next to an = available backpost?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT color=#000080>This may have been a design-around solution = to avoid a direct conflict with some patent claim. When researching prior art = for my own soundboard patent I encountered several that claimed specifically attaching support bars of various sorts to back posts.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080>Assuming it's in the right place--most were = not but anything is better than nothing--glue the sucker down. The patents = expired about a hundred years ago. Even in today's society you'll not have to = worry about lawsuits.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><BR>> <BR>> Also, at the treble end of this upright I am = working on (same M&H as my other recent posts), the maple rim floats between = two backposts at the extreme treble. One could epoxy in a big hunk of hard = wood and effectively bond the rim to the pinblock and to the backposts. I thought = it was critical to have the most secure rim possible in this area. The rim is approximately 1" x 2" in this area. Wouldn't it be a good idea to beef = this up?<BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT color=#000080>It depends. I'd want to see pictures before = commenting.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>