Actually, you probably could repair it without de stringing it now that I think about it. If you take off the four bolts that hold the block of wood into which the nose bolt is turned, and take the nose bolt cap off, you should be able to just pull the nose bolt and the block of wood down through the bottom of the piano. Then just make a new block of wood for the nose bolt, drill it to receive the nose bolt, drill the holes for the four bolts in the same position, screw the nose bolt into the block of wood, repair the beam by pulling it together with some clamps and glue. Insert some dowels into the beam to secure it. Then just insert the nose bolt back up through the bottom of the piano and replace the bolts into holes you've pre-drilled into the block. I suppose it might be a good idea to remove the tension on the strings, but I'm not sure it's even necessary to do that. When you're adjusting the nose bolt after the Piano was strong you loosen the cap effectively. The nose bolt is no longer attached to the plate. But if you feel more comfortable, take the tension down first. That might be a problem with really old strings he may break a few taken it back up so depends on what your overall approaches is.
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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.comdavidlovepianos@comcast.net415 407 8320
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2026 21:09
From: David Love
Subject: Cracked beam.
it doesn't seem likely that it's the result of a cracked plate. More likely it's the result of extreme humidity swings that are characteristic of that part of the country and the beam just split and took the block of wood that holds the nose bolt along with it. To repair it you'll have remove the strings and the plate because you can't remove the nose bolt without removing the plate, I don't think
Once you remove the plate it's a fairly simple repair to pull the beam ando the block back together, and then insert some dowels to prevent it from pulling apart again.
If what the customer says is true, that the Piano hasn't been tuned in 50 years, it seems unlikely that this happened as a result of somebody trying to increase the bearing.
If in fact you don't find a plate crack I would just repair it as outlined. It probably needs all that work anyway.
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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.com
davidlovepianos@comcast.net
415 407 8320
Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2026 07:17
From: Edward Mastin
Subject: Cracked beam.
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Good day gentle fellow techs. A customer of mine has been offered this 100 year old Baldwin grand for free. Overall the piano look quite nice. I've only seen pictures so far. Without editorials about Baldwins or age, what are your thoughts about this cracked support post under the left side of the piano and bolted to the plate support nearest the bass strings.
My partner suggested the beam may have cupped and forced the the side piece to split.
The current owner claims in his 50 years of owning the piano, it has never been tuned. As someone who appreciates older pianos, my newest piano currently is 1915, the oldest 1900. I would like to help him save this old Baldwin if its possible.
I welcome your constructive thoughts
Edward Mastin RPT
RPT
Syracuse NY
(315) 422-1291
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