Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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
Notes of Interest on Tuning
T OOK at Diagram INo. 1. There is a
•^'real problem that confronts us.
Note in particular that the part of the
wood Marked No. 4 has been reglued
to 4.B.
2-B as you will undoubtedly observe
Diagram 1.
No.
No.
1—Shows Grand Jack
2—Shows Jack Broken
repairable
Follow the arrows
and not
could not stand the impact demanded
from it when coming in contact with
the regulating button. See No. 4. Dia-
gram 3. It is really too bad that work-
manship of this kind should occur.
There is no need for it inasmuch as
the cost of new grand jacks is a small
item of expense, commensurate to time
lost. Besides, one can see it is decidedly
bad practice.
From practical experience, being
without some new grand jacks especi-
short of these most important and in-
valuable action parts.
Repairing a Broken Jack
Having dispensed with advice and
suggestions, let us proceed with a prob-
lem of how to repair a broken jack
in a proper and professional manner.
(a) Don't reglue the broken jack.
It is only temporary, and hard on
the next member of the profession.
First, lay out the required tools for
what we are about to use in this particu-
lar case—action repinning.
(b) The first indispensable tool to
be employed is called a center pin
punch, for pushing out the old pin in
the whippen flange. See Diagram No. 2.
The second tool of importance is a
broach, cornered for flange work. A
flange bushing burnisher, is the third
tool to be used.
(c) The next procedure is to fix a
new pin in the flange. It is always
good policy to have flange pins with
you. but sizes 18 and 19 will save a lot
of time unless you are working on old
uprights, then you never can tell what
special size you may require. Referring
to Cut 4A, Diagram No. 1. The jack
presumably is out of the flange and
ready to be replaced.
(d) The next demonstration is (1)
be sure the pin is not loose in the wood.
(2) try a pin to see if it will barely
enter the hole to safeguard a tendency
of splitting, for this is a matter of
judgment and experience.
(To be continued)
ASPT CONVENTION
Center Pin Punch. For removing center pins.
-Broach, cornered, for flange work.
-Flange Bushing Burnisher.
(Fig.
2)
ally when far away from any piano
supply house makes the whole idea
rather perplexing. Please never run
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1952
(Continued from Page 32)
and heard Dr. Paul Oncley of Columbia
University talk on "Musical Acous-
tics". There was also a talk by a repre-
sentative of the Minnesota Mining &
Manufacturing Co. on "Abrasives in
Piano Work". Francis P. Whalen.
Director of Metallurgies of the Worces-
ter Division of the American Steel &
Wire Co.. talked on "Piano Wire".
Peter M. Comstock, Vice-President
and F. Kelso Davis, Sales & Adver-
tising Manager of Pratt, Read & Co..
gave a talk on "Key and Action Build-
ing" in the Grand Ballroom before the
general assembly on Tuesday, Aug-
ust 5th.
Lesley J. Hopkins, Executive Secre-
tary, talked on "The National Office
Outlook" and of the report of the
Nominating Committee, selection of na-
tional officers, selection of convention
city for 1954, awarding of the prizes
and the Convention was adjourned
after several workshops which were
held on the 5th floor from 1 to 5 p.m.
Pratt, Read & Co. Entertains
On Wednesday, August 6th, Pratt,
Read & Co., Ivoryton, Conn, entertained
the members at their plant, providing
a special train for transportation.
Other trips to the Sohmer & Co. and
Janssen Piano Co. factories. The next
day. Thursday, August 7th, the mem-
bers were conducted by Steinway execu-
tives through the Steinway & Sons fac-
tory in Astoria, L. I., transportation to
and from the fatcory made by bus.
Exhibitors
The exihibitors at this Convention
included C. G. Conn, Ltd., Continental
Music Co., Steinway & Sons, New
York, the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.,
DeKalb, 111., Pratt, Read & Co., Ivory-
ton, Conn., Baldwin Piano Co., Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, W. W. Kimball Co., Chi-
cago, American Piano Supply Co., New
York, Wood & Brooks Co., Buffalo,
N. Y., Gulbransen Co., Melrose Park,
III.. Standard Piano Hammer Co. and
Tuners Supply Co., Boston, Mass.
New Officers
At the final business meeting held on
August 5th the following officers were
elected for the ensueing year: Willard
Davis, Los Angeles, Cal. President,
Percy W. Gatz. New York, N. Y. vice-
president, Robert Lutzen, Milwaukee,
Wis., Treasurer and Ralph Kingsbury,
Milwaukee, Wis.. Secretary.
33