<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1458" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Hello Alan,</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Yep great description, remind me of some nightmares ! And let me think that = it should be interesting to install anew action if the basis is in = acceptable state.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Purist here don't like the idea, to install anything new in an old piano = (!) but am persuaded one can obtain an acceptable tone not too strange, with = modern parts.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Cost may be paid by somebody of course !</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Best - have a good week end .</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Isaac</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=035444007-21082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT = face=Tahoma size=2>-----Message d'origine-----<BR><B>De :</B> = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>De la part de</B> Alan Forsyth<BR><B>Envoyé :</B> samedi 21 août 2004 = 05:00<BR><B>À :</B> Pianotech<BR><B>Objet :</B> Herrburger Brooks spring & loop action<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jon or Noj asked;</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Anyone out there familiar with this = action? I have no info on regulating procedures or specs. I tried some addresses in = England to no avail........"</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are 2 types of spring and loop action.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The older version is generally referred = to as the "Costa" spring and loop. This version can be found in pianos made in the = 1880's to 1895. It is basically a modified version of the original sticker = action, but in this case the sticker is the jack, check,damper lifter and = whippen all in one. In essence, it has 2 moving parts instead of 3 as = found in the tape check action not taking into account the damper = assemblies. The whole (jackass- embly) is connected to the hammer butt via a spring = from the jack to a loop in the hammer butt. They are an absolute pain to = regulate if the spring tension, length and thickness is incorrect. The single = spring has to do the equivalent work of the jack spring, butt spring and = tape. If this is the type you are referring to, just scrap it; it is just not = worth bothering about unless all the springs are present and in good = condition. Otherwise the specifications are as per normal i.e. set-off, hammerblow, = check distance. You will find though that the hammer flange assembly is = mounted flat instead of vertically, so if you need to travel the hammers, you use = packing under the flanges instead of casting the shanks.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The second version is a normal = tape/check action that appeared to have been discontinued around  1910. You will = probably only find them in overdamper actions that were common here. I have had = to deal with quite a few old German pianos that have this type, the name of Rud = Ibach comes to mind. Here a long spring is used as both the jack spring and = the butt spring. You regulate them as a normal upright action, but again if you = have to replace the springs, they have to exactly match the originals. I do not = know what the specific tensions are supposed to be and I doubt whether anyone = alive knows. Generally, the cost of overhaul way surpasses the value of the = instrument so the need to know specifications is not an issue. I usually advise the = customer that such a piano should only be restored for semi-mental = reasons, as I put it. Regulation is just as normal.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Assembling the parts can be tedious as = it is quite tricky to thread the spring through the loop. It's one of those jobs = that requires 3 hands,...................................................... = and a few more balls.</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial></FONT></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>AF</FONT></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>