<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Re: Qristmas & Chuestions</title></head><body> <div>Alan,</div> <div>Check out the archives on Chickering grands.  The pinblock design can be unique (possibly four sections with a double flange) - be careful what you get into.  The piano needs a new block, period.  If you have to send it to St. Louis, so be it.  Check out Abel, Renner, and Tokiwa for parts that will work.  If you're into repeating the design of brass flanges, contact Michael Wathen - he did this on a piano he owned.  For dampers, check out the Tokiwa pre-cut sets or the Japanese damper felt from Pianotek.  Good luck!</div> <div><br></div> <div>Respectfully,</div> <div>Jon</div> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Everybody:</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Client just knocked on my door to pay the $95 bucks he owes me .. then said his uncle would pay for "fixing up" his piano with the new hammers and such that it needs. Ho Ho Ho, there IS a Santa Claus</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Background: Piano is on older Chickering short grand, about 5'2" (have not found any serial # on it).</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">The pinblock needs replacing but that is not something I own the tools to do, nor have I any experience--never even seen it done. If need be, I can probably find a tech to co-op the job with but would rather not as there are no PTG techs (or others I trust to know what they are doing) for many miles around. Either bite the bullet and get what I need, help another tech do one for the experience, etc., all possibilities.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">BTW I did install a DC in this piano some months ago but it does not hold tune well. Pinblock has cracks and laminate separations.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">1. What about treating the old block with epoxy, then using 4/0 pins?</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">2. Hammers & shanks ... your preferences for this piano???</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">3. Piano uses the Chickering grand brass plates. Any point in trying to convert to wooden flanges, or just replace old brass???</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">4. Biggie! I've replace several sets of damper felt lately--trichords never want to seat right. Felt is too soft or something (tried Laoureux and Schaff generic). Anyone have a secret way to get trichords to sit between the strings???????</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Thanks, in advance for all responses, I owe you a root beer.</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Alan Barnard</font></blockquote> <blockquote type="cite" cite><font face="Arial" size="-1">Salem, Ho Ho Mo</font></blockquote> <div><br></div> <div><br></div> <x-sigsep><pre>-- </pre></x-sigsep> <div>Jon Ralinovsky<br> Piano Technician<br> Department of Music<br> Miami University<br> 513/529-6548</div> </body> </html>