Harpsichord

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  • 1.  Jacks with sticking tongues

    Posted 02-23-2022 13:21
      |   view attached
    I recently bought a double manual harpsichord... on impulse!  From a recycling centre. I knew nothing about harpsichords, I've never played one, but have always liked the sound. Plus it was just £100 (I'm in the UK) I couldn't leave it!
    It had been stored in a damp warehouse so I was expecting a few 'issues' . I wasn't wrong.
    Once I'd let let it acclimatise in my warm'ish  house for a couple of weeks cracks appeared along the case sides.  Careful application of epoxy glue and clamps has rectified that. 
    The felts under and on the keys were all crumbling so I've replaced those and spent several days with assorted felt and paper washers balancing the keys.
    Other issues were mainly cosmetic.
    The stumbling blocks now are the jacks. They're awful. There's no movement of the tongue when the jack drops, and the boars hair springs don't appear to have any spring at all.
    I tried using some fine fishing trace wire but that doesn't help much.Some of the plectra need replacing but the main problem is the tongues pivot. I discovered that with some jacks you can push out the pivot and open up the hole in the tongue slightly to help them 'swing'. Not these blighters though. The pin's showing every resistance to being pushed out and I'm worried I'll just split the wood. The prospect of repeating this 189 times, even if I could, is daunting to say the least.
    If I had the funds I'd replace the jacks but I haven't so  that's out of the question.
    I've attached a picture of one of the jacks.
    Any suggestions or advice would be more than welcome. 

    Friends have advised me to sell it but what idiot would buy a harpsichord that doesn't play....... Ah....

    Greg


    P.S.There's no makers name anywhere so I'm assuming this was built from a kit. The case appears to be pine and is unpainted, although the soundboard is reasonably well painted. Although it would benefit from a paint 'job' It would take some preparation as the wood has previously been waxed.

    P.P.S I know considerably more about harpsichords now :-)

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    Greg Dilworth
    Sherbourne
    01926624450
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  • 2.  RE: Jacks with sticking tongues

    Member
    Posted 02-23-2022 16:26
    There are many wonderful harpsichord builders and restorers in your part of the world.  I highly recommend contacting some.  I also highly recommend you join one of the Facebook harpsichord groups.   I would not proceeded further before studying various books and learning about appropriate materials,  for one, epoxy is definitely not advisable. 

    The axle pins may be rusted or corroded from natural acids in the wooden jacks and need replacing.  

    Sounds like Ike a good learning project.  No worries about ruining the current value!

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    Anne Acker
    Anne Acker Early Keyboards
    912-704-3048
    a.acker@comcast.net
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  • 3.  RE: Jacks with sticking tongues

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-23-2022 17:01
    No quick fixes. The boar bristle probably needs to be renewed (it does break down over time), and the axle pins probably need to be replaced with new, polished ones. That requires pushing the old ones out and pushing in new ones. If they are corroded, there is a risk breaking a jack or several if you aren't careful, and maybe even if you are careful. For replacement pins you can use piano centerpins of the appropriate diameter, which are readily available from piano supply houses (Fletcher & Newman is the main one in England), perhaps via a piano technician.

    What you need is a smooth pin that holds firmly in the jack body, and a slightly oversized hole in the tongue. That plus a spring that has spring. Replacing the bristle with fishing trace wire or something similar is certainly possible. You do need to make sure the spring isn't too strong, or the plectra will hang up and won't get below the strings.

    Simple enough, but it takes some work to make it happen. Yes, 189 times. That's the nature of harpsichord work: detailed work, repeated more times than you want to count. 


    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Casteneda






  • 4.  RE: Jacks with sticking tongues

    Posted 02-23-2022 17:32
    Thankyou both for the speedy replies. I think I knew those pins will have to come out. I probably just needed to share with people who have 'been there' and would understand.
    I'd dearly love to pay someone to do the job or replace the Jack's but as I said. I don't have the funds.
    The crack,around 0.2mm repaired with the epoxy was on the long side of the case. Not in an area affected sonically and I used a hypodermic to inject it into the crack before clamping. It solved the problem.
    If I manage to loosen the tongues as it were. I'll try the fishing line first. If its too strong I'll pop over to the farm. See if I can find a pig in need of a shave. 
    Thanks again!

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    Greg Dilworth
    Sherbourne
    01926624450
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  • 5.  RE: Jacks with sticking tongues

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-23-2022 17:46
    Bristle paint brushes are a reasonable source of bristle for the purpose. But if you have a pig available and can get it to sit still while you extract a few hairs, that sounds like more fun. 

    Fishing wire should be weak enough if you use the thinnest, which should be around 0.3 mm diameter or less.

    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination." - Einstein






  • 6.  RE: Jacks with sticking tongues

    Posted 02-23-2022 19:20

    Yes that's the size I managed to get. Mind you it was extremely difficult trying to discover the diameter of the stuff. The fishing shops just banged on about breaking strain.
    Do these people not realise there are Harpsichords in need of attention! :-)
    I'd already raided my paintbrush drawer but even the coarser old pasting brush was a bit fine.
    I have read so much, and watched so many YouTube videos about Harpsichord maintenance in the last four weeks  I've started dreaming about them!
    I've not come across any other Jack's like these though. I've come to the conclusion they're home made one offs.
    I just found an old bradawl I can possibly grind down to use as a punch/pin pusher.
    If I clamp the jack firmly in between two pieces of hardwood in the vice that, hopefully, will avoid any splitting. I'll give it a try tomorrow. 






  • 7.  RE: Jacks with sticking tongues

    Posted 02-23-2022 19:42
    This is the harpsichord : https://photos.app.goo.gl/triH2StYE3REAtqM9

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    Greg Dilworth
    Sherbourne
    01926624450
    ------------------------------