<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1>     To:= pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Kranich = & Bach   <div> <div> In a message dated = 4/18/2004<font= size=2 face=Arial> 6:28:58 = PM Pacific Standard Time, tune4@earthlink.net writes: </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> Hello Members A customer has a Kranich & Bach grand c. 1902 that needs = everything.  The backchecks are the same as any typical vertical piano...that's just as = you picture a vertical in your mind, with no buckskin over the felt.  = The ends of the hammer tails are wrapped with buckskin.  The action is so = far out of regulation the hammers won't check, so I can't gauge the = affectivness.  The customer wants the piano to "work" and is not concerned about preserving anything historical.  Has anyone converted one of these actions to = the usual grand back check and hammer tail?  Other than the above = arrangement, the action and keys appear to be a conventional style, but no una corda = or sustenuto. Thank you. Paul C </blockquote> </div> <div>         =             =       Paul,       =       Our old pal Newton</fo= nt> referred to these as Kronich Backache!       =       I recently serviced a similar vintage K&B.       =       This particular piano had the odd back check-hammer tail arrangement as you = describe, and had no checking problems.       =       I do agree that conversion to the standard leather back check-conventional = hammer tail would be in order .but the existing design can be = functional       =       Other design problems do exist on these pianos.       =       The action brackets extend under the keys, making stack removal and = especially reinstallation on the key frame very difficult         =       The keyframe itself  is very thin and flexible without glides =       =       Also the trap work under the key bed on many of these is a cumbersome iron = contraption that may be difficult to work with.       =       The whippen is also unconventional and may pose repair –regulation = problems.       =       My impression of these is that they were like many of the older Chickering = designs, with a high a standard of material –workmanship and = God–awful awkward designs.       =       Good luck,       =       Newton is chuckling = from the piano shop in the purple dimension.       =       Tom Driscoll </div> </div> </body> </html>