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PRACTICAL PIANO TUNING
By ALEXANDER HART
Formerly with Steinway & Sons Tuning Department, Instructor in
Piano Tuning, Teachers College, Columbia University, N. Y.
Registered Member of the
National Association of Piano Tuners
CHAPTER 3 4 - Piano Tuning in Review
Items of Interest
fine kit of tools without the essen-
A
tial supplies inside seems to me
as not quite complete. A reasonable con-
clusion lends itself to the understanding
of what and what not to carry when
going on a fairly long trip.
Naturally, experience counts in this
direction for many reasons, one in par-
ticular can be cited. It's not improbable
that one might find himself minus a
regulating screwdriver that turns the
button, i.e., for turning it up or down
so as to bring the hammer to or from
the string.
Now the point is what is most vital—
to be without a regulating tool or with-
out material that cannot be made, pur-
chased or substituted at the moment
when one is a long way from home.
Sometimes alteration is possible, but
not always.
Ice Pick
Another specific occasion where one
is compelled to contrive ways and means
of his own is to use an ice pick in
place of the regulating tool that was
not in the kit. By heating the end of
the pick and bending it, to form a hook,
the button can be turned.
In extreme cases, these buttons are
missing, or through rust the eyelet is
broken off, and the only way out is to
replace with a new one.
No repairman in his right mind ex-
pects to make extensive repairs without
thoroughly estimating the cost, plus
material, and time. Ordinarily the serv-
ice man relies on minor adjustments,
hence the need to carry with him every
conceivable item requisite for action
repairs.
Let us cite a few more cases why the
tool case should be well-equipped with
extra parts.
While working on an upright piano
about 40 years old, there was one ham-
mer missing at the upper treble sec-
tion—one extension guide or abstract,
one whippen at the extreme bass, a few
hammer shanks broken off short at the
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1951
butt (it really does not pay to drill the
butts out), a requirement of a new set
of front felt punchings, center rail felt
punchings, and a couple of strings, and
so on, but the lesson was NOT to be
without material. Yes, a bass hammer
was also missing.
Hammers
Here we have important items, let us
say almost indispensible, yet the carry-
ing weight runs up to only a few ounces.
One should provide himself with at
least two bass hammers—two or three
upright and grand hammers, one up-
right and one grand whippen, two grand
flanges and at least two upright butts,
and you never know when you will need
a couple of Steinway butts, short catch
stems, and more so a few Steinway
damper flanges, for these items cannot
be duplicated at the moment. Therefore,
be wise and replenish your stock of
material before it is too late.
It is quite evident that a hammer
shank, butt and flange, and a few con-
tinuous brass flange caps is more vital
than a heavy hammer that one would
carry around for resetting pins, or per-
chance repinning, as such a heavy tool
can be borrowed from the lady of the
house, or from a hardware store nearby,
yet how many of us have burdened our-
selves with heavy tools in place of im-
portant materials.
That's all there is today about ever-
ready materials. So, buy some, put them
in your tool kit, otherwise it will cost
you dearly later on.
By way of mention, please do accept
these few lines in good grace, for they
only apply to newcomers in our indus-
try, whether he calls himself a stringer,
a regulator, tuner or salesman. Piano
tuning, etc. belongs to the skilled arts,
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and should be so recognized. To be '"al-
most", or near doing something that
could be accomplished with a little more
patience and perseverance, is in itself
entirely up to the individual; an im-
portant factor that establishes one in
holding his own when seeking em-
ployment.
Asking for a large salary before one
has demonstrated his ability with per-
formance is merely talking one's way
into the job. If by chance a qualified
reference leads the way, so much the
better. But, in starting out in search of
work, one should be willing and ready
to show what he can do before the de-
mand for a remuneration that might
seem out of proportion. Think about
this, and also remember, you must get a
certain amount of experience, come what
may. Start small and grow gradually,
prove your worth, and the reward will
surely come to you.
"When the goal is desirable, expecta-
tion speeds our progress".
ACCOUNTING
(Turn to Page 27)
to current operations. In order to have
good budgeting you must have good ac-
counting both as a basis for making
estimates and for measurement against
actual results.
4. Receive advantages of current and
historical experiences of others with the
same problems. Out of this it should be
possible to eliminate many costly mis-
takes jvhich duplicate mistakes of others.
Possible Disadvantage
1. Possible tendency to allow account-
ing procedures to become static. This
probably is no more likely under the
manual approach than prevails in the
individual businesses today.
PLAYERS R E B U I L T
• Airmotors
• Pneumatics
• Bellows
• Rebuilt
Wri+e: TOLBERT F. CHEEK
1 1 Beau port Ave., Gloucester, Mass.
29