Music Trade Review

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FIRST AID '"' I A N O REPAIRS
By ALEXANDER HART
Instructor in Piano Tuning,
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York
Kcjlistcrcd Member of the Xational
Association
of Piano
Tuners
Piano Tuners who would like to further
their training are at liberty to consult Mr. Hart, c/o
Music TRACE REVIEW, 1270 Sixth Ave., New York 20, N.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Information About Pianos (continued
IT may be that a good piano tuner
wishes to know something about "ac-
tion setting"—a procedure that is
worthwhile watching.
The action finishing is a preparatory
step—to action regulating. Setting the
action properly is no great task, be-
cause this is all worked out for him
in advance.
The main thing is to be careful.
Distributed around the trade there
are finishers, regulators, and stringers,
who never thought of taking up the
tuning end of it; why this neglect, I
cannot answer.
nt
Watching a finisher prepare, or get
ready, is interesting.
Aside from general routine work, i.e.,
mounting the key frame, easing, keys,
adjust, dampers to the strings, and
so on.
Now, damper work is an art in it-
self, and requires a lot of practice; of
course, doing this kind of exercise every
day, one becomes experienced.
5 5 5
Bending of the damper wires to
proper alignment also belongs to the
skilled arts.
* it if
Then comes a delicate adjustment
of seating the damper felt, and regu-
lating the spoons —- that lift each and
every damper from the strings.
Good eyesight is very important
for one who is bending wires, and
seating dampers, then regulating their
required travel distance; furthermore,
the particular attention paid to this
branch of piano building is its ac-
curacy.
5 5 5
To watch a finisher work at the
bench affords an opportunity to learn
more about piano actions the tuner is
constantly called upon to adjust.
There is a moral attached to this.
5 S 5
It is so easy to tear things down,
i.e., trying to rectify the fine points
of action regulating, without knowing
what its all about.
* # ft
Fortunately for the honest, efficient,
repairman, some reliable piano trade
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 1946
from
schools are getting into line and doing
a fine job.
5 5 5
Not far from the finisher is another
benchway—for the action regulator.
This kind of work is so easy to talk
and write about, is likewise very de-
ceiving, when one comes to try his
own hand it it.
There are a few points , if under-
stood and practiced, that can be of
great help to those who would like to
adjust a few details that often require
such service on a piano action—espe-
cially a grand action, for this is not a
menial piece of performance—but some-
thing that should be watched carefully
before attempting to touch any part
of the action's mechanism that would
tend to make them worse instead of
better.
It is not to be expected that fine
regulating can bo accomplished over-
night.
This art is, and does, belong to the
one who calls himself a piano tuner.
What Is Regulating?
First of all the action regulator
must possess a sensitive touch, so much
in fact, that when we come to examine
88 keys all to have the same depth of
touch.
5 5 5
The regulator's responsibility rests
on the following corrections, that is,
checking up what has gone before.
The regulator is responsible in a
measure for the finisher's task, who
goes over every detail once again, to
assure himself that when the instru-
ment reaches the fine tuner, it can
begin to pass along to the fine regu-
lator where there is another task
oftimes overlooken even with honest
intentions.
5 5 5
The fine regulator begins his final
check on the grand action, viz.,
1. Tightening all screws.
2. Spacing hammers to strings.
3. Verify the whippings under leath-
er knuckles.
4. To be sure the action is set to the
following measurements, i.e.,
a. The hammer blow is 1%" from
string.
b. The adjustment of regulating
rail screw so that all hammers
travel to the string—%" to be
released when jack comes in
contact with regulating button.
c. Adjustment of the hammer rail.
d. Regulating the jacks under
leather knuckles of butt.
e. Checking jack springs.
Checking up on the repetition lever.
The knuckle rests on the repetition
lever and not on end of jack, inasmuch
as this cannot be seen—but only regu-
lated through light contact with knuc-
kle, and controlled by a regulating
screw.
Standards of DieasureHients are left
to the judgment of those who woi'k on
actions, but as a rule:
If you will remove the action from
the case, there is a fine side view to
be gained by looking and observing
each end of the action.
Striking the key gently you can no-
tice the travel of hammer, and all the
points that make up a regulator's art.
t t t
Things to Remember
The key dip should be %".
The hammer travel 1%" on blow.
The "let-off"—%".
The repetition lever is stopped when
contacted with the butt stop screw,
then escapes from under knuckle on
to the repetition lever, near 1/16"
drop.
JOIN
THE
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
of
PIANO TUNERS
Organized To Maintain The Highest Tech-
nical And Professional Standards In The
Practice Of Pfano Service.
Originators of a Nation-Wide System of
Qualified Piano Service Identified by a
Membership Certificate of "REGISTERED
TUNER and REBIHLDER of Pianoi." This
certificate is issued each year for the pro-
tection of the Tuner and his Clientele.
Read the
TUNERS JOURNAL
For particulars address thm
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
PIANO TUNERS
248 HOUSEMAN BUILDING
GRAND RAPIDS 2, MICH.
29