<HTML><BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff">In a message dated 10/22/02 8:22:53 PM Central Daylight Time, mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> Hi gang. Rebuilding a 1947 Baldwin M action. Renner has a great match for the shank/knuckle/flange (Abel flange is cut wrong on the back side for this action rail). The Renner New Baldwin wippen assembly also appears to be a perfect fit - except for the end of the repetition lever nearest the flange. I installed these parts on the action and regulated a few notes. Everything is real good, but with a 46 mm blow, a 10 mm dip  (how about that Antares!) and about 0.6 mm aftertouch  (.025") the shank is just touching the top of the repetition lever height adjustment screw (it is actually 1/16" above it, but the hammer I have on the shank is bored such that I have a bit of overstriking, so the shank will be about 1/16" lower). The old wippens have a shorter repetition lever post, which in turn brings the flange end of the old wippens down quite a bit lower and provide ample clearance for the shank. Every thing else on these Renner wips fits/aligns quite well, and even slightly imp! roves some of the basic geometry. Obviously I could shorten the blow distance, but I don't want to do that on a new action because of ill-fitting parts. Is there something that I might be overlooking? Any great ideas? Should I try Baldwin, Gibson, or whoever owns them now? I tremble just thinking of pursuing that route. Thanks for any ideas. Terry Farrell   </BLOCKQUOTE> Terry, Baldwins can be fun.  If the wippens will work for all other parameters I have been known to take a pair of nippers and cut about half (or a little more) off the swedged end of the screw,  just make sure to leave enough for your regulation tool to get a bite on. So far this technique (albeit perhaps a little jackleg) has worked well, though you might have to manipulate the hammer rail height to achieve a workable compromise there. David Koelzer Vintage Pianos DFW </HTML>