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Baldwin Lyre Braces

  • 1.  Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Member
    Posted 8 days ago

    I have a customer that is missing the lyre braces on their Baldwin Grand. Does anyone have any idea where a replacement set can be obtained? It is a Baldwin L #302814 in high gloss black. I measured that they should be 21 1/2" long.

    Thank you.



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    Rex Roseman
    Norton OH
    (330) 289-2948
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  • 2.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 8 days ago

    Schaff sells generic ones, ex. #770C is a 21" long version.

    You could also try Howard Gustafson at Ragland Piano.  He has a bunch of Baldwin stuff for sale, although when I looked at his ebay store I didn't see any lyre braces.



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    Nathan Monteleone RPT
    Fort Worth TX
    (817) 675-9494
    nbmont@gmail.com
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  • 3.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 7 days ago

    I once bought a Baldwin shift lever on Ebay from someone who evidently gathered up gobs of Baldwin parts at the time of their closure. Can't recall the vender but you can search. 

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 4.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 7 days ago

    Peter's talking about the Ragland Piano Company https://www.ebay.com/str/raglandpianocompany?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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  • 5.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 7 days ago

    Thanks Steve, yes that sounds familiar. After I spent several hours searching around to various places, someone suggested Ebay. I did, and bingo, there it was, and at a bargain price to boot!

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 6.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 6 days ago
    So I accidentally sent this to Rex as a direct message as well, and this was his reply: 

    "Thank you, but the braces for this piano are wooden. I have a set of the metal ones, but would prefer to get a set that would be original."

    So he's looking for wooden ones if anyone knows a source.





  • 7.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 6 days ago
    The original dowels had tapered ends to go in the holes in the lyre and the piano. But you can make your own from 3/4" dowels, painted black or whatever color the piano is. 





  • 8.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 5 days ago
    There's always the piano tuner approach to this problem. First you research the dimensions of the original. This is easy because there are a lot of Baldwin pianos out there for comparison. Next you purchase a wood lathe and spend a few hours learning how to use it. Then you make a pair then invest in a spray booth. Of course you will have to buy a whole gallon of black lacquer because that's the only way it comes from the paint store. Then you price the job to the customer at $75.00 because you know they won't pay what you really need for the job.

    Second option is to send it out to another tuner you know who did the same thing a while back for a couple of Mason and Hamlin lyre braces. They need a second job to help cover the cost of the lathe and the lacquer. Of course you realize that black lacquer comes in different shades, so the chances of the Mason and Hamlin black being the same as what you need for the Baldwin are pretty slim.

    Isn't this a fun industry to be a part of.







  • 9.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 5 days ago

    And then there's a guy who's already set up to do all of the above- David Hughes, who does vintage case parts.  See his Journal ad in the Classifieds.  There is a slight caveat, which is that these Baldwins had adjustable support rods, which consisted of a threaded stud and a thin roll pin inserted crossways.  The roll pin fits into the support block under the keybed, along with the rod, and if you turn the rod it will adjust the length to get a perfect fit.  If you get under the piano on one of these Baldwins, you'll see felt lined slots for the roll pins.  It's a nice system.  Whether you'd want to duplicate it is up to you.



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    Paul McCloud, RPT
    Accutone Piano Service
    www.AccutonePianoService.com
    pavadasa@gmail.com
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  • 10.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 5 days ago

    Or go to your local hardware store.



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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
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  • 11.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Member
    Posted 5 days ago

    Steinway had some turned wooden lyre support dowels Well made unfinished You can also try Louis Gentile Piano Service in Braintree Mass



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    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
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  • 12.  RE: Baldwin Lyre Braces

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 5 days ago

    Or Jon Page down on the Cape

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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