Here we go again! Well I'm glad that now Ragland Piano Co. is selling them . So at Boston University Music School we had a large inventory of Baldwin pianos, of the total piano inventory of 200+ pianos 70 were Baldwin purchased just before I started there as head tech. in 1986 . During the first 10 years I think 4 or 5 of the shift levers broke those I had on inventory to replace but fearing what was to come going forward in the mid '90's I ordered I think 25 additional levers by the time I left BU in 2019 there were still a dozen or so remaining . So over the years there have been similar requests for these shift levers but I've kept quiet !
Similarly I bought from Kimball just before they disappeared several of their specific plastic parts , fall board connectors and the pedal lyre box unit, these were for my private customer base , and recently since moving to Vermont a person unknown to me in rural PA contacted me through this site asking if I still had any of these Kimball parts, I was able to send her the almost last one.
www.snowpianos.com------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2021 03:17
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Baldwin grand soft pedal shift lever
Yes, Ragland Piano Company on eBay has a ton of Baldwin parts from bridges to soundboards, pedal lyres to action parts and hardware. A lot of player equipment as well.
https://www.ebay.com/str/raglandpianocompany?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129
Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2021 22:49
From: Mark Peters
Subject: Baldwin grand soft pedal shift lever
I actually just found one on eBay.
------------------------------
Mark Peters
Interlochen MI
231-590-9733
Original Message:
Sent: 08-20-2021 22:45
From: Susan Kline
Subject: Baldwin grand soft pedal shift lever
Fairly short Baldwin grand? A few years ago I had that problem. I can't remember where I got one, after I asked on the list. I think someone had several which he had ordered after encountering the same thing himself.
When I installed it, I took scrap hammer felt and made a stop block so that the left pedal couldn't exert leverage on the whole length of the shift lever once the action had shifted. So far I haven't heard from my customer (who practiced nonstop for hours every day), so I assume it's still there and working.
Original Message:
Sent: 8/20/2021 10:40:00 PM
From: Mark Peters
Subject: Baldwin grand soft pedal shift lever
Do we have a source for the Baldwin cast iron keyboard shift lever? I have a client who's lever broke off in a move and is not with the piano any more. Overall, the lever is about 12" in overall length from pedal rod to the pivot under the piano. It's quite a shame that the original was lost but nothing I can do about it now. Is there someone who would make something like this? Thanks for your help.
------------------------------
Mark Peters
Interlochen MI
231-590-9733
------------------------------