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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Glen & Del</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This pre-cut string is a strange idea. =
I thought
pianos were always strung up from, as Del says, spools of overhead
string.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But I'd like to add a little something =
a-propos the
kinks or bends in string. I have a policy when tuning an old piano, and =
whenever
it <EM>is</EM> possible, to use the old string by simply loosening off =
its
companion, straightening out the old string where it had been on the =
hitch, and
threading it up to the old wrest-pin and tuning up. I find that when =
doing this
the tonal quality stays the same and they don't stretch like a =
replacement new
string. You just land up with maybe two coils or less on the two =
wrest-pins in
question. The strings eventually straighten out pretty well. I find =
using a
"mole-wrench" on the hitch pin a good idea to hold the string in place =
while
fiddling around with the loose end. Is "mole wrench" an international =
term? It's
an adjustable gripping tool which can grip with incredible force if =
needed and
is adjusted by a knurled knob sticking out of the end of one of the =
handles.
Good description? :-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G (UK)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=pianobuilders@olynet.com =
href="mailto:pianobuilders@olynet.com">Delwin D
Fandrich</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 23, 2003 5:31 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: Baldwin pre-cut string</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Crashvalve@aol.com
href="mailto:Crashvalve@aol.com">Crashvalve@aol.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> October 22, 2003 5:13 =
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Baldwin pre-cut =
string</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT face=Geneva color=#000000 =
size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">When I visited Conway in 73' they had precut and
straightened wire to string the verticals. I know a straighter wire =
gives
truer harmonics, Question is; does zig-zag roller straightening of =
piano wire
have any downside like false beats etc ? If rollers are good, did =
Baldwin use
then in two or four planes ?<BR>regards<BR>Glenn C.</FONT><FONT =
face=Geneva
color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></FONT> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Unless there is a kink =
in the
wire, any wire stretched to 150+ lbs of tension is going to be pretty =
straight.
With this in mind I'm not sure what you mean when you say "a straighter =
wire
gives truer harmonics." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Baldwin uses =
straightened and
pre-cut wire simply as a manufacturing expediency. These wires are =
purchased
from Mapes to specification with each coming bundled in a package of, =
perhaps, a
hundred or so identical wires labeled for a specific spot on a =
specific
piano. These are then placed in one of several tubes set up so the =
stringer can
pull whichever specific wire is needed in sequence as stringing
progresses.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>The grand pianos are =
strung from
standard 5-lb coils in rack held above the piano.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" =
color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>