Pianotech

  • 1.  How to open piano with fallboard "brake"

    Posted 08-27-2023 08:46

    Hi there,


    I am trying to open an Elcke piano for tuning, but I am not sure how to do it right.

    The fallboard hinges on the upper panel, and is also connected to the body through a kind of "brake" to prevent it from falling.

    Here are some pictures:

    I am reluctant to unscrew the "brake" either from the fallboard or the body, since it seems to me that doing that repeatedly would end up chipping away the wood.
    It thus seems to me there must be a better way.
    Does anybody know of any?
    If not, do you reckon it would be better to unscrew it from the body, or from the fallboard?
    Thanks a lot in advance for the help


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    Vic Dupont
    Paris
    +33 1762563748
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  • 2.  RE: How to open piano with fallboard "brake"

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-27-2023 08:51
    I don't see a problem in removing it by unscrewing everything...


    Allan Sutton, m.mus. RPT, TEC
    www.pianotechniquemontreal.com





  • 3.  RE: How to open piano with fallboard "brake"

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-27-2023 08:55
    To me it looks like you need to remove two screws on the top of that bracket, 





  • 4.  RE: How to open piano with fallboard "brake"

    Posted 08-28-2023 13:38

    Thanks for the swift replies!

    I was thinking that if these screws are taken off and put back on at every tuning, the wood will deteriorate until at some point the screws don't hold anymore.

    But if you think that's no problem then good news!



    ------------------------------
    Vic Dupont
    Paris
    +33 1762563748
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: How to open piano with fallboard "brake"

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-28-2023 15:44

    The screws will not be a problem if you reinsert them correctly. Place in the hole and back out until you feel or hear the threads click into place. If you don't do this and just start screwing them in you have the danger of compromising the threads in the wood.



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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: How to open piano with fallboard "brake"

    Posted 08-30-2023 13:27

    Thanks a lot for the reply, that's actually really good advice!

    It makes sense that unless one does it that way, one chips away some wood, but that following this method theoretically the thread is kept intact.



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    Vic Dupont
    Paris
    +33 1762563748
    ------------------------------

    Original Message