Pianotech

  • 1.  Deteriorating Action Brackets

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-17-2017 16:55
    I just came across a J.C. Fischer grand #154357 today and its action brackets are splitting and evidently growing, or at least changing shape to the point that drop screws drag upon action removal, and there is no escapement left in the action. Most hammers block against the strings. 

    I see in my Schaff catalog action brackets for Aeolian. Does anyone know if these are in fact the actual replacements for this style of action?  Has anyone here dealt with this issue specifically and know one way or another?  Or do I have to just buy them and try them out to see if they are a match?

    Any input would be helpful.

    Pwg

    ------------------------------
    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Deteriorating Action Brackets

    Member
    Posted 01-17-2017 23:44
     I have a customer here with the same piano and same problem. I purchased brackets from Schaff and believe they are an exact match or very close. You will probably need to play around with things to get the proper action spread and it may mean shimming the action rails. I would examine each of the existing brackets and remove the best one to compare it with the schaff brackets. If things are way off you may have to fabricate new brackets out of wood. Don't laugh. I have seen wooden action brackets in Chickerings and they work just fine. Somewhere in old journals I saw an article on this repair.

    I need to get the owner of the Fischer have me do the long needed repair. I ordered the brackets a long time ago but she never set up the repair appointment. I am going to look up the serial number to see how close it is to yours. I would imagine quite a few of these pianos had the same problem so there are bound to be other techs who will respond or you can search the archives


    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Deteriorating Action Brackets

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-18-2017 07:26

    Peter –

     

    I did my Fischer brackets way back in the 70's using new ones purchased from APSCO, if I recall correctly, and they were a good fit. My guess would be that Schaff's are cast from the same pattern.

     

    Mark

     

    Sent from Mail for Windows 10

     






  • 4.  RE: Deteriorating Action Brackets

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-18-2017 09:56
    Thank you!  This is encouraging. There is some emotional attachment to this piano so the owner will be happy if this problem can be solved within reason. 

    Anyone else with a similar experience? 

    Pwg

    ------------------------------
    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------