Pianotech

No particular year that I am aware of.  Age and amount of use matters.  Agraffes over 50 years old should be replaced. Also pianos from late 50's to early 80's.

No particular year that I am aware of.  Age and amount of use matters.  Agraffes over 50 years old should be replaced. Also pianos from late 50's to early 80's.

Considering that the V-bar should be dressed at the same interval suggests replacement of agraffes too. I recently did it on a 1970 L and it REALLY needed it.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Considering that the V-bar should be dressed at the same interval suggests replacement of agraffes too. I recently did it on a 1970 L and it REALLY needed it.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Wim,

The early- and mid-1920s.

David G. Hughes, RPT

Baltimore Chapter

Wim,

Maybe that one broken agraffe was an isolated case, and maybe it isn't.

As David Hughes mentioned, the agraffes themselves in the '60s and '70s were made more poorly, particularly with regard to the drilling.

The agraffes from the '20s and thereabouts that break, in my experience, seems to have been due to the fact that the underside of the agraffe head was flat rather than concave, like it is on modern agraffes. I would think that if the threads went all the way to the top of the agraffe post, that would enable someone to tighten it so much as to weaken the connection between the head and the post.

Wim,

Maybe that one broken agraffe was an isolated case, and maybe it isn't.

As David Hughes mentioned, the agraffes themselves in the '60s and '70s were made more poorly, particularly with regard to the drilling.

The agraffes from the '20s and thereabouts that break, in my experience, seems to have been due to the fact that the underside of the agraffe head was flat rather than concave, like it is on modern agraffes. I would think that if the threads went all the way to the top of the agraffe post, that would enable someone to tighten it so much as to weaken the connection between the head and the post.

With the stress these things are under I'm astounded that they don't break more often.  I agree with Parker that even if they "look" okay, replacement is in order. I'm replacing them on a 1980 Kawai. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Wim,

Maybe that one broken agraffe was an isolated case, and maybe it isn't.

As David Hughes mentioned, the agraffes themselves in the '60s and '70s were made more poorly, particularly with regard to the drilling.

The agraffes from the '20s and thereabouts that break, in my experience, seems to have been due to the fact that the underside of the agraffe head was flat rather than concave, like it is on modern agraffes. I would think that if the threads went all the way to the top of the agraffe post, that would enable someone to tighten it so much as to weaken the connection between the head and the post.

I replace agraffes everything I re-string.

Except for Grey pianos.

Chris.

With the stress these things are under I'm astounded that they don't break more often.  I agree with Parker that even if they "look" okay, replacement is in order. I'm replacing them on a 1980 Kawai. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Wim,

Maybe that one broken agraffe was an isolated case, and maybe it isn't.

As David Hughes mentioned, the agraffes themselves in the '60s and '70s were made more poorly, particularly with regard to the drilling.

The agraffes from the '20s and thereabouts that break, in my experience, seems to have been due to the fact that the underside of the agraffe head was flat rather than concave, like it is on modern agraffes. I would think that if the threads went all the way to the top of the agraffe post, that would enable someone to tighten it so much as to weaken the connection between the head and the post.