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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
Notes of Interest on Tuning
HE instrumentality of certain piano
T various
repair tools now obtainable at the
supply houses cannot be over-
estimated as time savers.
There are some technicians who do
not have a catalog to consult. There-
fore. I would like to pass on a few
handy gadgets, as they are called.
These practical tools are a boon to all
PLIER
TYPE
HAMMER
HEAD
AND
BUTT EXTRACTOR AND GRAND SHANK
PRESS.
service men. A special tool is called
Papp's patent mute, a real novelty
treble mute of tweezer design, 8 inches
long. You will find it handy and
practical when an upright hammer
butt-flange screw is to be removed for
repairs. It holds the jack forward, be-
sides tuning extreme treble strings.
The inserted cuts speak for themselves.
Another is a serviceable hammer head
and butt extractor. One remarkable
feature is the ability to take off a ham-
mer without breaking a shank or re-
moving it from the rail.
grand action. If it is in a home where
you are going to do the work, be sure
there are not other repairs that are
better taken care of at the shop, that
is if you have one. Here are a few
of the proceedures to be followed in
case you have not included hammer
work in your tuning practice. All of
us must get experience the best way
we can. Some are fortunate to get it
at a piano repair shop; others must
resort to doing it by 'doing it your-
self.
It can be done by going at it slowly
and surely. Before we make the start,
let us ponder a few moments and find
out what is the best move to make.
EXTRACTOR CAN BE USED WITHOUT
REMOVING BUTT FROM ACTION.
i.e., either in the home or lake the ac-
tion away.
Suggestion
PAPP'S PATENT TREBLE MUTE, WITH
CASE.
Another time-saving device is for
repairing agraffes for split bridges.
They come in three different sizes. I
have often remarked some repair items
take up little room in the repair kit.
an dare so needful when an emergency
requires special repair parts, and it
pays off to know a supply is in the
kit'.
Notes In General
How to do it yourself is the aim and
desire of most of us. Let's consider the
replacing a new set of hammers on a
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANTJARY, 1954
Find a grand piano that would be
none the worse for being tinkered with,
and do as you please. You may want
to do quite a lot of experimenting for
the sake of experience. So we begin
with putting on the hammers.
GRAND SHANK PRESS ATTACHMENT
IN POSITION. USED WITHOUT TAKING
SHANKS FROM RAIL. QUICKER THAN
SPLITTING.
1.—The first move is to purchase a
new set. and where to go for them.
^ ou will find the names and addresses
of those who make piano hammers in
the REVIEW ur.der ''Piano Supplies."
2.—Taking hammers off the frame and
sending them away to be made to sam-
ple.
(a) We cannot determine how many
sections there are to a piano action.
This you can see for yourself.
(b) If there are four sections, re-
move the lowest bass hammer, then
the 30th or 32nd hammer of the
first section, then take off first ham-
mer of next section. That may be.
let us say, 33. Then the end of that
section which is the second, and so
on, i.e.. first and last hammer of
each section. H hammers in all.
3.—The hammer maker will then
give you a new set according to the
angles measurement, bore and pinning
of the ones sent in. (Note: It would be
advisable to write what make the in-
strument is because many times they
have some in stock.)
4.—When they are returned be care-
ful how you unwrap them. Then num-
ber them 1 to cS8. If you have a few
left over, take one from each section
and save them for a rainy day.
5.—In this article we mentioned
about a tool for removing the hammers
from the shanks.
(a) If you have not been able to ac-
quire this tool, the next bet is to do
what you think best.
(b) Some tuners split the head in
two and throw a^ay old hammers.
(c) Caution should always govern
work of this kind. (Note: Many
times, i.e.. in renewing a set of ham-
mers, upon close examination, the
shanks are so worn that it would be
better practice to replace a new
set.)
(d) When the hammers have been
taken off shanks, the second proced-
ure of importance is to fit new ham-
mers to them.
A hammer shank reducer, some glue,
a steady hand and accurate eye are
absolute requirements. Then the rest
is up to you. Being all set, we can
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