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28
THE
means of a straight edge whetheT this has
sagged in the center. If it has, then one can
often partially repair the difficulty by slight-
ly adjusting tho
feet resting on the keyboard, which are to
be found sticking up through the balance
rail. Since, however, these only affect the
balance rail, adjustment must be made for
t-he front rail by gluing pieces of cardboard
of the correct thickness under it to take up
any space that may be apparent between rail
and bed. Otherwise the pianist will feel .1
"give" when he presses the keys. Old grands
often show sagging in the center of the key-
bed. This cannot be neglected if the mechan-
ical condition of the instrument is ever to be
restored satisfactorily. One should not use
these balance-rail screws to adjust the height
of the balance-rail.
MUSIC
The remaining punchings should then give
the close adjustment of dip which will show
the after-touch effect.
I have spoken roughly and generally in all
this. Particularly I have wished to impress
upon Mr. Cunningham and upon all other
interested readers the need to remember that
in old pianos one has first of all to get the
key-frame into shape. Until this has been
accomplished, the action proper should be let
severely alone. Moreover, unless it is ac-
complished, the regulating will be badly done.
The whole work rests upon the foundation
of correct key-dip.
In my book, "Modern Piano Tuning," the
subject is exhaustively discussed. Copies of
this book can be obtained from the publisher
TRADE
REVIEW,
July, 1931
use the forked springs which they had for so
long used in the repetition levers of their
actions, and adopted in their place a pair
of separated springs with tension screw ad-
justment for the upper spring. Steinway
pianos are therefore likely to be encountered
which have the single spring action. In this
case it is necessary to use regulator's bending
irons if one wishes to bend the springs in
order to obtain higher tension. One should
never try to bend springs with the fingers.
WHAT A PITY!
It seems to me a great pity that tuners
generally know so little about the fine points
of regulating grand actions. The grand piano
is today the reigning favorite and is likely
to be so more and more. This does not mean
of the Music TRADE REVIEW, Federated Busi-
ness Publications, Inc., 420 Lexington avenue, that the upright will no longer be manufac-
New
York. It contains all the information tured. It merely means that now and for
ACTION WORK
one can ask for on all branches of the sub- the future the popular piano will be built
After the keys have been attended to, the ject.
in horizontal rather than in vertical shape.
action may be replaced, after all screws have
It also means of course that those who make
been tightened, and stems and hammers test-
ACTIONS NOW MUCH ALIKE
their living out of the care of these instru-
ed for loose glue. The extreme hammers of
There is very little difference between one ments are cheating both the public and them-
each section should now carefully be lined make of standard action and another. Older selves when they neglect to obtain a perfect-
up by means of the capstan screws, so that actions such as are to be found in the Chick- ed understanding of the mechanics of the
the stem of each stands about 5/32 inch erings of fifty years ago were sometimes instrument. I suppose I may be allowed to
above the cushion of the repetition lever. crude. Here one occasionally finds oneself do a little advertising. In that case I shall
Moreover, one should make a gauge where- at a loss, especially where new parts cannot say to Mr. Cunningham and to all other
by the hammers may be adjusted to Test 2 be obtained. Then one has to use one's own interested readers that if they will consult
inches (more or less, to be determined by ingenuity, whereupon one's neatness as a cab- my book they will find all the information
measurement of distance between key bed inet maker, or the reverse, becomes imme- they can ask for on the subject in all its
branches. The present article serves to focus
and strings) below the strings when they diately apparent.
are at the right height from the cushions
Some years ago Steinway & Sons ceased to attention on that very point.
All hammers may now be lined up accord-
ingly. Then the let-off should be adjusted.
Then the back-checks should be regulated to NEW YORK TUNERS FORM
name of the New Jersey Piano Tuners' As-
stand straight and to catch each hammer and
sociation, Inc. William H. Paullin, Irving-
hold it on rebound after even a very heavy NEW ORGANIZATION
ton, N. J., is president of the new body,
stroke. The hammer should be caught on
At the June monthly meeting of the New Eugene J. Sauerborn, Newark, is vice-presi-
rebound when it is about %" below the York City Division of the National Associa- dent; Frank W. Cann, Newark, secretary,
string.
tion of Piano Tuners, it was decided to re- and Herbert J. Krey, Maplewood, N. J.,
REPETITION LEVER
turn its charter and resign from the National treasurer.
The repetition lever now demands atten- Association. Immediately after this meeting
It is reported that local tuners' divisions
tion. The spring tension on this often causes a new association was formed, called the in several other cities have broken away from
difficulty. Very few tuners seem to under- Piano Tuner-Technicians of New York City, the National organization and formed local
stand its functions. The point is that the having its headquarters at the Pythian bodies including the tuners of St. Louis, Mo.,
spring should be just strong enough in each Temple, West Seventieth street, New York. Peoria, 111., and Los Angeles. Dissatisfaction
repetition lever to cause the hammer to rise The following officers were elected: George with the operating methods of the national
and dance a little when the back check is Bullencamp, president; Wilbur Gould, vice- association was given as the reason.
released. Tension screws are usually found president; Carl L. Schneider, secretary; A. C.
in modern actions, but on old ones it is nec- Kline, treasurer. Board of Directors: Harry
Closes Branch Store
essary very often to bend the springs when Barnes, A. L. Greene, Granville Ward, Ber-
the tension has to be increased. It must not nard Brown and F. E. Lane.
The Wilkes Music Store, located at 91
be forgotten that the object of the repetition
F. E. Lane, of the publicity committee, North Main street, Gloversville, N. Y.,
lever springs is to hold the levers in place stated that they intend, so far as it is pos- closed its doors on May 1. The stock will
against the weight of the hammer, nor sec- sible, to have in their organization only those be transferred to the firm's main store at
ondarily that the more spring tension one has of good character, possessing superior tuning Amsterdam, which will continue in business
the heavier is the touch, owing to the re- and technical skill, and that they intend to as heretofore.
sistance of the action thus being increased.
co-operate with the Bureau for the Advance-
The little screw which is set in the ham- ment of Music. They also intend to combat
mer flange must be regulated so that the the influence of degrading music and debased
repetition lever is stopped in its rise just be- unmusical compositions, and to condemn the
Estate/
cheap and fraudulent piano.
fore the jack trips.
1
of
"AFTER-TOUCH "
After all this has been done it is well to
look over the key lev.el again and straighten
it out, using the dipblocks before mentioned.
Lastly the so-called "after-touch" should be
considered. This is the slight lifting of a
hammer which takes place when a key is
gently released. A good way to test for this
is to place under each key in turn so many
punchings that the hammers will not release
from the back checks save under a very hard
stroke on the key. Then punchings are to be
removed to the thickness of about 1/32".
NEW JERSEY PIANO TUNERS
FORM NEW ASSOCIATION
Following the action of the members of
the New York Division of the National As-
sociation of Piano Tuners in severing their
connection with that body and forming a new
organization under the name of the Piano
Tuner-Technicians of New York City, as re-
ported elsewhere in THE REVIEW this month,
the Newark, N. J., division has taken the
same step and is now functioning under the
dj
WANOftVCTORER
OF
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NORTH BERGEN. N. j .
Tel.: 7—4367