<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=purple link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left>-----Original Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Tom Driscoll Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 10:49 PM To: = 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: Kranich & = Bach </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> 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.  Paul C <DIV>                     = Paul,            = Our old pal Newton 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 [Paul Chick (Earthlink)]  Thanks, Tom.  = I've copied yours and Dale's notes, and, yes, it has the action brackets, key = frame, etc., as you describe.  The owner loves the period case, = refinished by a competent shop.  So, now she wants it to play = without her "arms aching" and stay in tune.  She has been = using foam ear plugs to mute the strings that slip out of tune.  They look = like pastel flowers growing from the soundboard.  I admire her resourcefulness.   Paul = C </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></= HTML>