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Hi there...
<p>Fischers were generally considered higher quality pianos in their day
so you might have a little gem of sorts here. It sounds like the
designers were following after the Steinway concept by having no bushings.
In such cases this typically means the stresses are focused elsewhere rather
than the typical arrangement. If it were me I would avoid reaming
the holes if at all possible. If so do it as little as you can.
If you do I would strongly suggest removing the plate since even the slightest
error in any drill stop would go into the block. If you feel ambitious
enough and the piano is a nice enough looking specimen you might want to
consider going all out and replacing the block. This would allow
you to use the original size pines as originally conceived.
<p>As far as Otto Higel player actions go, they were decent in their day
but a Standard could still run circles around them. Of course Standard
along with their chief competitor, Simplex, could out do just about anyone
with the possible exception of Gulbranson and Shultz.
<p>I rebuilt a later Otto Higel action about ten years ago. This
was the more common type with the huge valve chest with the pouches being
little unit pillow block thingys. If the Metanola action that you
have is in good shape then indeed you have something special. The
die cast material in those days rarely lasted unless the material just
happened to be a really good batch. If it has lasted this long I
imagine it will last forever.
<p>I guess the word of the day is to just "go slow".
<p>Good luck.
<p>Rob Goodale, RPT
<br>Las Vegas, NV
<p>Stephen Powell wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE> <font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Greetings
List</font></font> <font color="#000000"><font size=-1>Piano: Fischer
upright player (New York), 1917. Looking at a rebuild, rewhatever.
Two questions:</font></font> <font color="#000000"><font size=-1>
1. There are no tuning pin bushings - the pins go through holes in the
plate with very little clearance between the plate and the pins.
What is the usual procedure for restringing an arrangement like this?
I figure my options are to either ream the plate and install larger pins
or, replace sections of pinblock behind the plate and string with the original
size pins. Has anyone out there ever reamed a plate to install bushings?
I'm curious to opinions on this one.</font></font> <font color="#000000"><font size=-1>
2. For the player techs: the action is an Otto Higel model K "metalnola".
I have done a number of player rebuilds, but not one of these. I
am aware that the die cast valve chambers can suffer from warping/cracking.
>From the outside, the metal looks to be in amazing [good] condition.
Generally, what is the restorability of these actions.</font></font></blockquote>
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