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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello List</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was asked to tune a piano in an old =
church (part
Saxon, part Regency and part Victorian) in Lewes Sussex. This was =
Wednesday 9
March. When I looked at this very venerable Bechstein grand (No.2824 - =
figured
walnut case) I found MOTH had got there first. The reason for =
tuning was
for a piano concerto being performed there on Saturday. New composer at =
the
piano. Dilemma! Dare I take the action out, back to my workshop, knowing =
the
tremendous liability? Answer Yes! But Thursday I had tunings and repairs =
ready
for piano exams at a school and an old square piano to tune. Old.. as in =
1775
built by Pohlman. Pitch A=393. But that was young compared to the =
house it was
in.... 1530. Now <EM>that's OLD</EM>. Today I was committed to tuning =
seven
school pianos. I last tuned them two years ago... YUK. So where does the =
tool
fit in? Bechstein action on bench. Dismantle hammer rail complete with =
hammers.
Disconnect all those little stickers Bechstein used to use between the =
keys and
the levers. Many of the felt bushes .. GONE! (this job is getting bigger =
by the
moment... bigger liability..) Find the hammer rest pads on the levers =
are eaten.
Even centre bushings.. eaten. That regulating button for the jack-top =
window ...
eaten. Then a moth grub poked its head out and winked at me. I squashed =
it.
They're hard, you know, quite difficult to squash. Remove the lever rail =
with
all the levers attached and the little sticker dangling from them. =
Remove keys
and get the vacuum going. Where were the balance rail washers? Eaten. =
Where were
the front rail thick washers... eaten. The back rail touch felt was but =
a shadow
of its former self...Eaten. Been there? So have I. But the action =
<EM>must
</EM>be back and working by 3:00pm tomorrow for rehearsal. Removing the =
remains
of the touch felt showed the need for something sharp and heavy. So I =
got a 1
1/2" cold chisel. Heavy thing. Sharpened it up very nicely on the =
belt
sander and that old felt and glue came off very quickly indeed. Replace =
all
felts and find key-touch not deep enough. Dismantle action and try =
again. Then
regulate. I have a little (as in 3" long) flat ratchet screw driver =
for
touch regulating in these old Bechsteins. Now the action is finished. =
Regulated
on the bench from section string heights taken on site and using my home =
made
bridge. But... what's that I see... poking its little brown head out of =
a
hammer? Quick! Squash another one.. I really <EM>do </EM>fear for =
my stock
of felt....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>'Night all</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael =
G.(UK)</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>