Music Trade Review

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
Piano Tuning, Teachers College, Columbia University, N. Y.
Registered Member of the
National Association of Piano Tuners
CHAPTER 25 - Piano Tuning in Review
No. 42
R
KPUTABLK firm? retain foremen
over all their departments, espe-
cially regulating and tone regu-
lating or voicing departments. It would
of hammer rail marked "C'\ Above the
C is cushion felt, above that the action
is bolted past with a knob. To right of
bracket, there is a black dot marked on
tances in cold freight cars, and weather
conditions, tie-u'ps. embargos, etc. tend
to require some attention (no matter
how small) after the piano has had a
chance to get a warming out. Here is
where the dealer comes in to watch out
for these seeming climatic conditions,
for when an instrument is delivered too
soon there is a possibility for a check-
up.
No. 44
Reverting to the knob, hammer head
and regulating screw rail, all three can
stand a check-up. For instance, remove
top frame and try knobs. They loosen
by themselves. Check on hammer head,
and check marked "D" on the hammer
butt, as the stems can become loose and
cause a click. The clicking sound is not
always at the hammer head. The screw
that holds butt in position can also
become loose when instrument is dried
out.
To be cautious is always in order, and
not be too hasty to do anything without
first knowing what it's all about. Use a
thin screwdriver when you attempt to
tighten a flange screw. Don't forget to
tighten screws that hold regulating rail.
These must be tight in order to hold
rail firm.
No.
take a few lifetimes for one to be thor-
oughly skilled in all the procedures of
piano manufacturing. The best the ser-
viceman can do is to be able to correct
unavoidable conditions that arise
through no fault on the part of the
maker, or dealer. Nevertheless, it is not
ihe circumstances but what we make
of it.
To cite a few instances, let us review
our design.
No. 43
Look at the left-hand bracket to left
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 1951
the hammer head. At the extreme right
is letter "L '—a regulating rail.
The knob, hammer head and regulat-
ing rail plus screws to be tightened,
could be one of the unpreventable occur-
rences that cannot be accounted for until
the piano is in its position, i.e., unboxed,
and all ready for display.
Remarks on No. 43: Surely enough,
no one is responsible for these three
items above-mentioned; and can be at-
tributed to extreme cold and heat. The
first, if pianos are shipped long dis-
45
The items of interest and procedures
about pianos I hope will be of value to
those who are beginning to be initiated
into the ranks in the fine art of piano
making.
Taking them in their order, we 'begin
with
The Parts of a Piano:
The framework or foundation
Wrest-plank or pin block
Sound board
Wood for the sound board
The bridge on sound board
The iron or metal plate
The steel strings
The tuning pins
25