CAUT

In updating an 1879 3/4-plate 48" Stwy vertical, I have to convert the wippen-damperlever contact from wooden "spoon" (fixed flange) & setscrew in the damper lever, to the modern metal spoon. I have 50  such spoons, leftover from when supply houses had them, and need another ~25. Unfortunately, no one (Pianotek, Schaff, Forte Piano Supply, Renner, Stwy) carries them. I thought I might make do with the spoon for the grand rep's jack-adjust button. Unfortunately, the latter is flat, as opposed to an actual "spoon" curve, and unlike the jack-adjust spoon, the vertical damper spoon is moving (as with its damper lever).



Any idea about a back-channel to a piano factory, as a source? I'm going to do the conversion with the 50 I have (from the bass on up, where most of the wire spending is done). Maybe, I can assume that the "flat" spoons won't dig as much into the damper lever felt if I put a slight bend in the spoon so that its top edge is no longer the first to hit the felt.

But I'd love to find some real upright damper spoons.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 5/6/2022 11:20:00 AM
From: Bill Ballard
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

In updating an 1879 3/4-plate 48" Stwy vertical, I have to convert the wippen-damperlever contact from wooden "spoon" (fixed flange) & setscrew in the damper lever, to the modern metal spoon. I have 50  such spoons, leftover from when supply houses had them, and need another ~25. Unfortunately, no one (Pianotek, Schaff, Forte Piano Supply, Renner, Stwy) carries them. I thought I might make do with the spoon for the grand rep's jack-adjust button. Unfortunately, the latter is flat, as opposed to an actual "spoon" curve, and unlike the jack-adjust spoon, the vertical damper spoon is moving (as with its damper lever).

Any idea about a back-channel to a piano factory, as a source? I'm going to do the conversion with the 50 I have (from the bass on up, where most of the wire spending is done). Maybe, I can assume that the "flat" spoons won't dig as much into the damper lever felt if I put a slight bend in the spoon so that its top edge is no longer the first to hit the felt.

But I'd love to find some real upright damper spoons.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------

Dang, I just demolished two of them this Fall: an ornate I&P, and a no-name ("Milton", who knows …) 48"-er from the '30. But both of those had damper flanges offset from the butt flanges: straight spoons to be bent to cover the offset. I need one from a double-flange action, a Stwy or a Baltimore Knabe.

Schaff used to offer their connections to the piano industry for odd parts not called-for enough to get in their catalog. But that was back when this country had a piano industry. Probably these would have to come special order from the EU, something that Jurgen or Melanie Brooks could swing.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2022 13:40
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

Salvage some from an old action whose piano was junked?

Regards,

Fred Sturm

fssturm@comcast.net

http://fredsturm.net

www.artoftuning.com

"Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Brecht

Original Message:
Sent: 5/6/2022 11:20:00 AM
From: Bill Ballard
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

In updating an 1879 3/4-plate 48" Stwy vertical, I have to convert the wippen-damperlever contact from wooden "spoon" (fixed flange) & setscrew in the damper lever, to the modern metal spoon. I have 50  such spoons, leftover from when supply houses had them, and need another ~25. Unfortunately, no one (Pianotek, Schaff, Forte Piano Supply, Renner, Stwy) carries them. I thought I might make do with the spoon for the grand rep's jack-adjust button. Unfortunately, the latter is flat, as opposed to an actual "spoon" curve, and unlike the jack-adjust spoon, the vertical damper spoon is moving (as with its damper lever).

Any idea about a back-channel to a piano factory, as a source? I'm going to do the conversion with the 50 I have (from the bass on up, where most of the wire spending is done). Maybe, I can assume that the "flat" spoons won't dig as much into the damper lever felt if I put a slight bend in the spoon so that its top edge is no longer the first to hit the felt.

But I'd love to find some real upright damper spoons.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------

Piano Forte does not have them, but we can get them for you. They are straight, with no bends in them.

Contact me directly if you still need hem Bill.

------------------------------
Jurgen Goering
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-07-2022 08:29
From: Bill Ballard
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

Dang, I just demolished two of them this Fall: an ornate I&P, and a no-name ("Milton", who knows …) 48"-er from the '30. But both of those had damper flanges offset from the butt flanges: straight spoons to be bent to cover the offset. I need one from a double-flange action, a Stwy or a Baltimore Knabe.

Schaff used to offer their connections to the piano industry for odd parts not called-for enough to get in their catalog. But that was back when this country had a piano industry. Probably these would have to come special order from the EU, something that Jurgen or Melanie Brooks could swing.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2022 13:40
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

Salvage some from an old action whose piano was junked?

Regards,

Fred Sturm

fssturm@comcast.net

http://fredsturm.net

www.artoftuning.com

"Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." Brecht

Original Message:
Sent: 5/6/2022 11:20:00 AM
From: Bill Ballard
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

In updating an 1879 3/4-plate 48" Stwy vertical, I have to convert the wippen-damperlever contact from wooden "spoon" (fixed flange) & setscrew in the damper lever, to the modern metal spoon. I have 50  such spoons, leftover from when supply houses had them, and need another ~25. Unfortunately, no one (Pianotek, Schaff, Forte Piano Supply, Renner, Stwy) carries them. I thought I might make do with the spoon for the grand rep's jack-adjust button. Unfortunately, the latter is flat, as opposed to an actual "spoon" curve, and unlike the jack-adjust spoon, the vertical damper spoon is moving (as with its damper lever).

Any idea about a back-channel to a piano factory, as a source? I'm going to do the conversion with the 50 I have (from the bass on up, where most of the wire spending is done). Maybe, I can assume that the "flat" spoons won't dig as much into the damper lever felt if I put a slight bend in the spoon so that its top edge is no longer the first to hit the felt.

But I'd love to find some real upright damper spoons.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------

Those are the spoons I need for my Steinway model N. If anyone knows where some are I only need a few.... Thanks

------------------------------
Richard Greer
Hacienda Heights CA
(310) 435-6920
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-06-2022 11:20
From: Bill Ballard
Subject: Vertical Damper Spoons

In updating an 1879 3/4-plate 48" Stwy vertical, I have to convert the wippen-damperlever contact from wooden "spoon" (fixed flange) & setscrew in the damper lever, to the modern metal spoon. I have 50  such spoons, leftover from when supply houses had them, and need another ~25. Unfortunately, no one (Pianotek, Schaff, Forte Piano Supply, Renner, Stwy) carries them. I thought I might make do with the spoon for the grand rep's jack-adjust button. Unfortunately, the latter is flat, as opposed to an actual "spoon" curve, and unlike the jack-adjust spoon, the vertical damper spoon is moving (as with its damper lever).

Any idea about a back-channel to a piano factory, as a source? I'm going to do the conversion with the 50 I have (from the bass on up, where most of the wire spending is done). Maybe, I can assume that the "flat" spoons won't dig as much into the damper lever felt if I put a slight bend in the spoon so that its top edge is no longer the first to hit the felt.

But I'd love to find some real upright damper spoons.

------------------------------
William Ballard RPT
WBPS
Saxtons River VT
802-869-9107

"Our lives contain a thousand springs
and dies if one be gone
Strange that a harp of a thousand strings
should keep in tune so long."
...........Dr. Watts, "The Continental Harmony,1774
+++++++++++++++++++++
------------------------------