I appreciate the response from all of you! I have used the roller type catch in the past for a replacement. Recently on an Aeolean era Chickering grand.
Hearing that the original was an RV part, I checked with a trailer sales place less than a mile from my house. They didn’t have one on the parts rack in the store but, after seeing the picture, the guy said “that’s the old style”. I told him the piano is 30 years old. Not surprised. He went back in the repair shop and came out with two of them. He actually was going to just give them to me, but I threw some money on the counter. It fit the piano perfectly and I have a spare!
I would say, if you want to be a hero to that customer with a Kimball grand, stop at your local RV store to see if they have any of these before they are all gone.
I do like those old fashioned hardware stores! They’re almost a thing of the past with the new “big box stores”. There is one yet in our town. It’s nice to be able to go there to buy one bolt, if that’s all I need. I don’t have to buy a whole box to get one.
Thanks again to all who helped!
Gene
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 1/26/2026 12:10:00 AM
From: Paul McCloud
Subject: RE: Kimball fallboard catch
Hi Eugene:
You can substitute a regular cabinet latch with rollers if you can't find an exact replacement. They've been manufactured since forever and are still around in any hardware store.
------------------------------
Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-25-2026 23:20
From: Eugene Taets
Subject: Kimball fallboard catch
To allies with 3D printers,
Has anyone made replacement fallboard catch parts for Kimball grands? The original plastic part is broken.
------------------------------
Eugene Taets RPT
Silvis IL
(309) 796-2888
------------------------------