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PRACTICAL PIANO TUNING
m
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 29-Piano Tuning in Review
Silent Keys
Remarks on No. 52
The paragraph before the last one,
i.e., a broken shank—the correction is
a new one, instead of a new screw. When
a key is broken in half and time does
not warrant sending it away to be fixed,
because the music teacher often comes
in the afternoon to give a piano lesson,
and does not wish to be held up.
The best way I know of to repair a
key under these circumstances is to:
(a) Rub just a small amount of glue
on broken parts, so that it sinks into
the wood.
(b) After a minute or two, glue the
parts again and let the glue get good
and tacky, fasten broken parts of key
secure on a flat top table.
(c) Clamp the sides just glued and
let it dry during the process of your
other work, such as tuning, checking
up, etc.
(d) Now glue a piece of thin card
each side of the key about three inches
long. Then let that dry about fifteen
minutes.
(e) Now mortise a piece of wood
under key a scant eighth of an inch,
and drill a hole in the same position.
Then put on a new key button, and
fasten it with two small brads.
No. 53
Jack flanges becoming unglued hap-
pens all the time. There are many ways
to do this job. One of the safest ways
is to take the whippen off. Then you are
free to reglue the jack so that it will
stay put, for this gives you a chance
to get all the dried up substances ac-
cumulated in the whippen groove out of
the way.
Should one be pressed for time, the
jack can be reglued without taking the
whippen off the rail, another sure way
is to take the hammer butt out, which
will give you a full view besides plenty
of clearance to work freely.
Clean off the surplus glue, then be
sure you have light enough to see how
the jack fits snugly in whippen groove.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MAY, 1951
(a) With a long pair of tweezers place
the jack in position just behind the jack
spring, and by all means see that spring
is fastened temporarily on the back
check wire. Otherwise, the spring will
surely interfere with the operation.
(b) Replacing the jack will not be a
tricky problem if precautions are taken.
After you get the jack in place exam-
ine carefully so that it is thoroughly
seated. Then put the key back and hold
hammer head with left hand and bear
on it so that the butt and jack will be
even or not too high. If one is not care-
ful, the jack flange will not be thor-
oughly bedded. This is important.
No. 54
When jack flange pins are tight in
the bushing, it seems to me the most
dependable way is to re-pin them, unless
the whole action is sluggish, then the
procedure is quite different. Time must
be allowed for the treatment of and for
sluggish actions.
On old instruments it is also another
story, because one can use his own idea
of treatment.
Let us take the new piano purchased
but in a short time yet there is a feeling
of sluggishness or non-responsiveness,
a good deal of this happening is depend-
ing upon where the instrument is. Jusl
suppose they are on board ship, near a
swamp, or on river fronts over damp
cellars, in front of open windows where
damp penetrates. My best bet would be
the installation of a Dampp-Chaser—a
sure cure.
The other method is the water treat-
ment, that is, using a thin piece of wood
and on each side of the flange apply
some, and wait a day for drying out.
After this apply de-natured alcohol the
same way.
Whatever flanges give trouble must
be resorted to the one and only process,
i.e., a new pin.
It is rather difficult to describe the
exact amount of feel the pin should
have in and around the flange, but prac-
tice and only practice can decide this.
The various phases of action regulat-
ing also fit into the picture, easing the
keys, taking up lost motion, the right
amount of hammer blow, let off, and
touch.
CHARLES L. BRADY
Charles L. Brady, who for 55 years
was connected with the Aeolian Co.,
and Wm. Knabe & Co., having started
in February, 1896
at the age of 15 as
a messenger,
passed away in
his 70th year on
April 27th after a
brief illness.
At the time of
his death he was
connected with
William Knabe &
Co. and was for
many years previ-
CHARLES BRADY
QUg t o n j g p r e s e nt
occupation in charge of the shipping de-
partment of the Aeolian Co.
In February, 1946 the executives and
entire staffs of the Aeolian Co. and Wil-
liam Knabe & Co. honored Mr. Brady
with a dinner and he was presented with
a gold watch by W. Lee White, then
President of the Aeolian Co., inscribed
with—"Charles L. Brady—50 years of
Faithful Service—1896-1946—American
Piano Corp."
In all the years of his service, Mr.
Brady hardly ever was away from his
duties one day, and in his early youth
he was quite a famous athlete, being a
long-distance runner of note.
Mr. Brady is survived by his widow.
Catherine E. and by two sons, Robert
A. and the Rev. Charles A. Brady.
Funeral services were held at the John
F. X. McKeon Funeral Home at 188th
St. and Marion Ave., New York, on Mon-
day. April 30th. A Solemn Requiem
Mass was sung at the Church of Our
Lady of Mercy at 10:30 A.M. and in-
terment was at the Gate of Heaven Cem-
etary.
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