Pianotech

  • 1.  Tuning lever or tip needed for small oblong tuning pins

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-11-2024 19:29

    Greetings,

    A client has, among his many period keyboard instruments, two with "old time" oblong tuning pins. The oblong tips I have acquired from the usual supply houses are all much too loose to be useful. He has a lever with a better fit that works well enough for one of these instruments, but the other one requires more clearance (= a greater distance from the business end of the tip to the lever itself).

    If any one either has something that answers to this description or can direct me to a source, I would appreciate your letting me know.

    Thanks,

    Alan



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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 2.  RE: Tuning lever or tip needed for small oblong tuning pins

    Posted 11-11-2024 19:50
    In the UK Fletcher & Newman used to stock an oblong lever which is compatible with 19th century Broadwoods but now stock a tip https://www.fletcher-newman.co.uk/index.php?l=product_list&c=55.

    Another possibility which I've resorted to when travelling and without a harpsichord lever is to buy a L shaped hex lever and use an angle grinder to cut a slot of the correct width. It worked rather well. 

    I've found keeping an eye on ebay for old tools to be helpful. Many turn out to be junk but once in a while one turns up which is snug on the pins of an ancient instrument.

    Best wishes

    David P


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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594



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  • 3.  RE: Tuning lever or tip needed for small oblong tuning pins

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-11-2024 22:16

    There is at least one on eBay now, looks pretty funky. Could be more...

    Here



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    Steven Rosenthal RPT
    Honolulu HI
    (808) 521-7129
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Tuning lever or tip needed for small oblong tuning pins

    Posted 11-12-2024 07:35
    Yes - that one is a standard for many standard size pins and the two prongs are at 90 degrees to enable more convenient lever positions.

    https://youtu.be/QF224PZBEvY?t=462 are the three levers I carry around with me on historic instrument jobs but if a smaller one is necessary the largest of https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hannon-Hex-Key-Set-Pack-of-10-/196425554544 provides a lever fat enough in which to cut a custom slot and if a longer lever is required the 10mm lever in https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005245776258.html will work.

    On many historic instruments the pins aren't as tight as we're used to on modern instruments so a short lever works or look for old T hammers on ebay.

    Pins are often loose but not untunable even without CA treatment. On the tuning of a nightmare 1869 Cottage Grand Broadwood there are various issues where perhaps one of my warts and all videos can help:
    00:00 Introduction to the 1869 Broadwood cottage grand 00:44 Marking loose tuning pin with felt washer 01:50 Choosing the tuning lever 05:19 Tuning lever position 06:48 recipe for an imperfect unison 20:45 Coping with a loose pin and feather touch tuning 23:17 Display of 2nd partial on the CTS5 tuner and showing inharmonicity 58:47 Tuning false unisons by ear and with machine guidance 1:02:30 Machine assistance identifying sharp false string of unison and helping to reconcile the two

    Tuning of these instruments works better with a perfect 5th based unequal temperament such as Vallotti, Young, Kellner or Kirnberger III on account of the different harmonic structure of pre-1880ish instruments so do try it and you might be surprised. On account of tonal deficiencies no-one will notice but the instrument will sound better.

    Best wishes

    David P




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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Tuning lever or tip needed for small oblong tuning pins

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-12-2024 08:07
    https://www.traditional-brassware.co.uk/brassware-patterns-2/tuning-tools/ 
    If David is back working, this is what you want. 



    Original Message