Pianotech

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For the screwstringer fans out there...

  • 1.  For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-05-2019 15:46
    There's a 7 foot screwstringer grand for sale in Taunton, Massachusetts if anyone's interested.
    Of course it needs a complete rebuilding, but all the pieces are there.  (It needs a pair of treble tuning hooks, and the tuning tool, but those are easily replaced).  Guide combs appear to be intact, which is the major issue.
    If nothing else, it'd be a shame to allow this grand old thing go to the dumpster.

    Think of the possibilities in rebuildng this... screwstringer tuning mechanism, dampp-chaser, new WNG composite action!  You'd be impervious to climactic changes.  This is a piano technician's piano!
    Regards,
    Chris Storch
    :)


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    Christopher Storch
    Belmont MA
    617-489-6436
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  • 2.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 11:54
    Christopher-

    Are the "tuning hooks" the pieces that the wire wraps around at one end, and have a threaded rod at the other end?

    -Lawrence Becker

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    Lawrence Becker
    Dayton KY
    513-257-1477
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  • 3.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 12:22
      |   view attached
    That's right, Lawrence.  At least that's what most people call them.


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    Christopher Storch
    Belmont MA
    617-489-6436
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  • 4.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 12:44
    I am working on an 1880s M&H upright screw stringer, and yesterday broke a bass tuning hook.  Do you know if it is possible to get a replacement?

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    Lawrence Becker
    Dayton KY
    513-257-1477
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  • 5.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Posted 01-11-2019 13:39
    Jim Coleman, JR. has them.  Specify, long or short.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 6.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 14:43
    Lawrence,

    I have replacements on hand.  A couple of questions:
    • Do you have a picture of which type of bass hook it is? Or a picture of the area where the broken hook is located?
    • Do you need the tuning nut as well?


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    Christopher Storch
    Belmont MA
    617-489-6436
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  • 7.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Posted 01-11-2019 15:11
    I believe they are referred to as tuning machines.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 8.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 15:14
    Christopher-

    I'm sorry; I don't know how to upload a photo to this thread.  (Yes, I'm older.)

    It's most similar to the top left hook in your photo.  Has a long nut.  It's for low bass, back row.  Total hook length w/o nut is 3".  Nut length is 33/64".

    Nut would be useful to make sure it fits thread, and to avoid extracting broken end of hook.


    Jon Page-

    Thanks; good to know Jim Coleman, Jr. has these, also!


    -Lawrence


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    Lawrence Becker
    Dayton KY
    513-257-1477
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  • 9.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 15:29
    Whoops--measured wrong nut!

    Correct length for long nut on this set is 21/32"

    Sorry,
    -Lawrence

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    Lawrence Becker
    Dayton KY
    513-257-1477
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-11-2019 20:29
      |   view attached
    Christopher-

    Here, I think, is a jpeg of the broken bass string hook.

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    Lawrence Becker
    Dayton KY
    513-257-1477
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  • 11.  RE: For the screwstringer fans out there...

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 01-12-2019 12:04
    Christopher, I was just in Taunton a couple of months ago. Wish I had known. 
    The Harpsichord Clearing House is in Rehoboth, where I graduated HS, so
    I made quite a few trips down memory lane while I was there geographically
    speaking. Spent a lot of my HS days hanging around in Taunton. 

    I rebuilt a AA a while back. Very nice results. The pinblock was the big problem (ha ha). .
    Kidding aside, I found that the machines are basically the same as those used on drum
    heads, and also that a common hex bit will work on them, which makes clearance 
    issues a little less frustrating. I used a bit with a T-handle for tuning as the tool
    sold by the parts houses tends to contact adjacent machines, and detunes what
    you might have just gotten right. 

    Good to know you have the tuning parts if I consider doing another one. This one came to me
    from Houston when the owner was moving to NC and then sent there to the new residence 
    upon completion. 





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    Dave Conte
    Owner
    North Richland Hills TX
    817-581-7321
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