Pianotech

  • 1.  1881 Weber Grand

    Posted 07-10-2025 07:56
      |   view attached

    Good morning,  This is my month for ancient whippen work.  I have a client with an 1881 Weber Grand that was rebuilt in the 1990s.  A couple of what I can only call "connectors" have broken (picture included).  I have tried sourcing these in various places, but no luck.  I wondered if any of you all had come across one of these and what you did to repair it.  I have thought about cutting a small piece of  wood.  Thanks in advance for any information!  



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    Patrick Greene
    OWNER
    Knoxville TN
    (865) 384-6582
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  • 2.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Posted 07-10-2025 08:53

    When i get pianos like this i duplicate the parts in my shop. I have a end-mill and i had custom bits made (like a birdseye bit)for making piano parts. I can't wait to see what you come up with so please show the after pic.

    Good luck!

    -chris



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    Chernobieff Piano Restorations

    Inertia Touch Wave(ITW) The most advanced silky smooth actions.

    Engineered Hygroscopic Soundboards. The strongest and lightest boards made today for acoustic projection, richness and warmth.

    865-986-7720 (text only please)
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-11-2025 07:51

    Bill Shull,

    The argument for a coupled/linked whippen was faster repetition, i.e. there would never be any gravity or momentum gap between the keystick and the whippen heel.

    David G. Hughes, RPT



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    David Hughes RPT
    Vintage Case Parts
    Glyndon MD
    (443) 522-2201
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Posted 07-11-2025 10:37

    Found someone with some extra ones.

    Those 3D printers and C&C machines are amazing now!



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    Patrick Greene
    OWNER
    Knoxville TN
    (865) 384-6582
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Posted 07-10-2025 09:50

    We are currently rebuilding a Hardman that was made in 1887. It has linkages that look very similar to yours. We are converting this Hardman to the modern capstan style which means we have a whole set of these whippens with linkages. I would be glad to send you a few to see if they work. Feel free to contact me about them.



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    O.A. Watson
    Watson Piano Works
    San Marcos TX
    (512) 757-5556
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  • 6.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-10-2025 13:49
    It might be of interest to note that when Paderewski got fed up with Steinway and it's heavy actions he went to Weber, and his primary piano was a more than a decade old (for the 1890s) Weber concert grand - with a linked whippen.   I often wonder why  pianists liked in these linked actions, built on both sides of the pond, from Ibach to Erard to the great American pianos.  The Steinway capstan patent of 1875 prevented the use of the capstan by all these builders - but Paderewski chose a linked action piano over a capstan system.

    Unless the piano was in a museum I wouldn't oppose conversion to capstans, done properly this is the gold standard, but I'm fascinated by what might have been the linked action's attraction.

    Regards,

    Bill

    Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
    www.shullpiano.com
    www.periodpiano.org
    909 796-4226

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-11-2025 07:52
    I'm in the midst of your dilemma myself. I have made replacement parts from upright stickers cut to length. That gives me the birdseye for the top. The notched end is a little more forgiving as it clamps on the pin in the rocker capstan. Finding the #2 round head screws was a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, I'm a bit of a packrat on salvaged hardware. After all, you never know when you're going to need a #2 round head blued screw!

    Norman 



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Posted 07-11-2025 10:39

    O.A. Watson in the post up above might have some more available...



    ------------------------------
    Patrick Greene
    OWNER
    Knoxville TN
    (865) 384-6582
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: 1881 Weber Grand

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-11-2025 12:10
    Impressive Norman!  I've already regretted tossing a few old sticker actions....

    David, there's still the dynamic space between the wippen and the knuckle;  but there might be a better feeling of connectedness.  I'm inclined to think that that feeling can be achieved with good weight and friction balancing too....

    Regards,

    Bill

    Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
    www.shullpiano.com
    www.periodpiano.org
    909 796-4226

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message