Pianotech

Help... I am looking for some pictures, measurements and any information on the pedal lyre, pedal prop sticks and trap works for a 7' + Lester Grand and also the scaling/wire sizes (it probably would benefit from rescaling or at least some analysis using software). This particular piano was sent to Mexico for a "rebuild " but I have my doubts about how much was done for the price. On the other hand they did some nice case work , a new block, action work etc. A very respected/experienced tech worked on it but the owner is squawking that its doing things it didn't do before and he expected a performance grade piano yada yada yada. As a professional courtesy to this tech I went and looked at it and found a host of issues which I wrote up.
One thing that stood out was the ridiculous size of the pedal lyre and size of the pedal horns. It just is out of proportion to the size of the piano although the owner claims the serial number matches that on the plate. According to Pierce the s/n is 1957 and Lester went out in 1960. I think I recall seeing something about the whippens being rebuilt but the h/s/f where new but the brand is not listed . I have not touched the piano and am not sure I want to jump in and get hosed. There is no way to know what amount or quality of action regulation was done or the materials used. I think is quite possible the hammers need travelling, mating to the strings, removal of cupping on left and right side of hammer felt.
Another concern I have is the environment it is in namely a raised beach house that has lots of air flow under the house and probably HVAC that is not up to the task. There is some damper bleed and it looked to me that the small pedal setup was struggling to lift the damper tray and perhaps the trap works got moved about to "make it work" . I have pictures of what is on it if anyone wants to send me a private message. I did propose putting in some temp/humidity data loggers for a two week 24hour a day with samples 15 minutes apart. My prediction is it will be all over the map

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

James,

I see no pics.

Pwg

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2019 13:41
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

Help... I am looking for some pictures, measurements and any information on the pedal lyre, pedal prop sticks and trap works for a 7' + Lester Grand and also the scaling/wire sizes (it probably would benefit from rescaling or at least some analysis using software). This particular piano was sent to Mexico for a "rebuild " but I have my doubts about how much was done for the price. On the other hand they did some nice case work , a new block, action work etc. A very respected/experienced tech worked on it but the owner is squawking that its doing things it didn't do before and he expected a performance grade piano yada yada yada. As a professional courtesy to this tech I went and looked at it and found a host of issues which I wrote up.
One thing that stood out was the ridiculous size of the pedal lyre and size of the pedal horns. It just is out of proportion to the size of the piano although the owner claims the serial number matches that on the plate. According to Pierce the s/n is 1957 and Lester went out in 1960. I think I recall seeing something about the whippens being rebuilt but the h/s/f where new but the brand is not listed . I have not touched the piano and am not sure I want to jump in and get hosed. There is no way to know what amount or quality of action regulation was done or the materials used. I think is quite possible the hammers need travelling, mating to the strings, removal of cupping on left and right side of hammer felt.
Another concern I have is the environment it is in namely a raised beach house that has lots of air flow under the house and probably HVAC that is not up to the task. There is some damper bleed and it looked to me that the small pedal setup was struggling to lift the damper tray and perhaps the trap works got moved about to "make it work" . I have pictures of what is on it if anyone wants to send me a private message. I did propose putting in some temp/humidity data loggers for a two week 24hour a day with samples 15 minutes apart. My prediction is it will be all over the map

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

I will post some shortly so everyone can see what is there.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2019 12:17
From: Peter Grey
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

James,

I see no pics.

Pwg

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2019 13:41
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

Help... I am looking for some pictures, measurements and any information on the pedal lyre, pedal prop sticks and trap works for a 7' + Lester Grand and also the scaling/wire sizes (it probably would benefit from rescaling or at least some analysis using software). This particular piano was sent to Mexico for a "rebuild " but I have my doubts about how much was done for the price. On the other hand they did some nice case work , a new block, action work etc. A very respected/experienced tech worked on it but the owner is squawking that its doing things it didn't do before and he expected a performance grade piano yada yada yada. As a professional courtesy to this tech I went and looked at it and found a host of issues which I wrote up.
One thing that stood out was the ridiculous size of the pedal lyre and size of the pedal horns. It just is out of proportion to the size of the piano although the owner claims the serial number matches that on the plate. According to Pierce the s/n is 1957 and Lester went out in 1960. I think I recall seeing something about the whippens being rebuilt but the h/s/f where new but the brand is not listed . I have not touched the piano and am not sure I want to jump in and get hosed. There is no way to know what amount or quality of action regulation was done or the materials used. I think is quite possible the hammers need travelling, mating to the strings, removal of cupping on left and right side of hammer felt.
Another concern I have is the environment it is in namely a raised beach house that has lots of air flow under the house and probably HVAC that is not up to the task. There is some damper bleed and it looked to me that the small pedal setup was struggling to lift the damper tray and perhaps the trap works got moved about to "make it work" . I have pictures of what is on it if anyone wants to send me a private message. I did propose putting in some temp/humidity data loggers for a two week 24hour a day with samples 15 minutes apart. My prediction is it will be all over the map

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

Pedals and lyre 7' + Lester semi-concert grand

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2019 16:44
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

I will post some shortly so everyone can see what is there.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2019 12:17
From: Peter Grey
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

James,

I see no pics.

Pwg

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2019 13:41
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

Help... I am looking for some pictures, measurements and any information on the pedal lyre, pedal prop sticks and trap works for a 7' + Lester Grand and also the scaling/wire sizes (it probably would benefit from rescaling or at least some analysis using software). This particular piano was sent to Mexico for a "rebuild " but I have my doubts about how much was done for the price. On the other hand they did some nice case work , a new block, action work etc. A very respected/experienced tech worked on it but the owner is squawking that its doing things it didn't do before and he expected a performance grade piano yada yada yada. As a professional courtesy to this tech I went and looked at it and found a host of issues which I wrote up.
One thing that stood out was the ridiculous size of the pedal lyre and size of the pedal horns. It just is out of proportion to the size of the piano although the owner claims the serial number matches that on the plate. According to Pierce the s/n is 1957 and Lester went out in 1960. I think I recall seeing something about the whippens being rebuilt but the h/s/f where new but the brand is not listed . I have not touched the piano and am not sure I want to jump in and get hosed. There is no way to know what amount or quality of action regulation was done or the materials used. I think is quite possible the hammers need travelling, mating to the strings, removal of cupping on left and right side of hammer felt.
Another concern I have is the environment it is in namely a raised beach house that has lots of air flow under the house and probably HVAC that is not up to the task. There is some damper bleed and it looked to me that the small pedal setup was struggling to lift the damper tray and perhaps the trap works got moved about to "make it work" . I have pictures of what is on it if anyone wants to send me a private message. I did propose putting in some temp/humidity data loggers for a two week 24hour a day with samples 15 minutes apart. My prediction is it will be all over the map

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

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2019 19:00
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

Pedals and lyre 7' + Lester semi-concert grand

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2019 16:44
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

I will post some shortly so everyone can see what is there.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-19-2019 12:17
From: Peter Grey
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

James,

I see no pics.

Pwg

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2019 13:41
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

Help... I am looking for some pictures, measurements and any information on the pedal lyre, pedal prop sticks and trap works for a 7' + Lester Grand and also the scaling/wire sizes (it probably would benefit from rescaling or at least some analysis using software). This particular piano was sent to Mexico for a "rebuild " but I have my doubts about how much was done for the price. On the other hand they did some nice case work , a new block, action work etc. A very respected/experienced tech worked on it but the owner is squawking that its doing things it didn't do before and he expected a performance grade piano yada yada yada. As a professional courtesy to this tech I went and looked at it and found a host of issues which I wrote up.
One thing that stood out was the ridiculous size of the pedal lyre and size of the pedal horns. It just is out of proportion to the size of the piano although the owner claims the serial number matches that on the plate. According to Pierce the s/n is 1957 and Lester went out in 1960. I think I recall seeing something about the whippens being rebuilt but the h/s/f where new but the brand is not listed . I have not touched the piano and am not sure I want to jump in and get hosed. There is no way to know what amount or quality of action regulation was done or the materials used. I think is quite possible the hammers need travelling, mating to the strings, removal of cupping on left and right side of hammer felt.
Another concern I have is the environment it is in namely a raised beach house that has lots of air flow under the house and probably HVAC that is not up to the task. There is some damper bleed and it looked to me that the small pedal setup was struggling to lift the damper tray and perhaps the trap works got moved about to "make it work" . I have pictures of what is on it if anyone wants to send me a private message. I did propose putting in some temp/humidity data loggers for a two week 24hour a day with samples 15 minutes apart. My prediction is it will be all over the map

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

I am still looking for a good frontal picture of a pedal lyre and the pedals that would be on a Lester 7 ' plus grand. All the pictures I have tried to view by google searches are side shots and most are small pianos. I thought I read not too long ago someone was re-building such a piano. The lyre and pedals on the piano I am working on are much too small like something you would see on a 4 foot petite piano . The serial number indicates it was a late 1950's build . Maybe someone up in the Philadelphia area knows of one since the brand was made there and it was the official piano of the orchestra there.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2019 13:41
From: James Kelly
Subject: 7' Lester Grand Lyre Pictures/Measurements

Help... I am looking for some pictures, measurements and any information on the pedal lyre, pedal prop sticks and trap works for a 7' + Lester Grand and also the scaling/wire sizes (it probably would benefit from rescaling or at least some analysis using software). This particular piano was sent to Mexico for a "rebuild " but I have my doubts about how much was done for the price. On the other hand they did some nice case work , a new block, action work etc. A very respected/experienced tech worked on it but the owner is squawking that its doing things it didn't do before and he expected a performance grade piano yada yada yada. As a professional courtesy to this tech I went and looked at it and found a host of issues which I wrote up.
One thing that stood out was the ridiculous size of the pedal lyre and size of the pedal horns. It just is out of proportion to the size of the piano although the owner claims the serial number matches that on the plate. According to Pierce the s/n is 1957 and Lester went out in 1960. I think I recall seeing something about the whippens being rebuilt but the h/s/f where new but the brand is not listed . I have not touched the piano and am not sure I want to jump in and get hosed. There is no way to know what amount or quality of action regulation was done or the materials used. I think is quite possible the hammers need travelling, mating to the strings, removal of cupping on left and right side of hammer felt.
Another concern I have is the environment it is in namely a raised beach house that has lots of air flow under the house and probably HVAC that is not up to the task. There is some damper bleed and it looked to me that the small pedal setup was struggling to lift the damper tray and perhaps the trap works got moved about to "make it work" . I have pictures of what is on it if anyone wants to send me a private message. I did propose putting in some temp/humidity data loggers for a two week 24hour a day with samples 15 minutes apart. My prediction is it will be all over the map

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