Is there only one kind of fall board spring available now? I'm trying to find a replacement for a broken spring from a baby grand (Lester) and there is only a Steinway fall board spring in the Schaff catalog. It looks totally different than the one that broke, but I'm assuming could be made to work?

Hope everyone is well! I haven't been around the forum lately. I've been just slammed with gigs and tunings.

Thanks!

Second hand parts maybe? There are a couple of guys in your area that might have something or could direct you to someone who might have an old spring for you. One guy is Rick Davies in Kalamazoo,( RPD on the forum), and Jerry Groot in Grand Rapids,( also on the forum) might know of someone in your area that does restorative work….

Good to hear you are busy......

Thank you, Dan. That is a very good suggestion. I should go see Jim Reeder; he's probably got something that will work.

I'm also refurbishing an old Grinnell Bros. upright for the local children's museum. Boy, somebody's been in this thing that had no idea what they were doing. Most of the work is going to be un-doing the previous "technician". Isn't that sometimes the case?

I'll check with the shop I'm in...4tepiano in Detroit.

“Most of the work is going to be un-doing the previous "technician". Isn't that sometimes the case?”
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There will always be the work of under- qualified technicians that have over-reached on their limitations of knowledge and technique.

But the corrections of that work are part of what keeps the rest of us busy.........

Good one Monster...there you might have the part closer than you think...

RPD here...let me know if you can't find anything to fit...we might have something 'round here under/over/behind the pianos!

Always happy to help another musician/tuner! We're not playing out for another year (on purpose-needed break!)

Best of Luck!! Rick (RPD)
PS We're due for another trip to Lansing to visit Bill and Linda Harrison (Custom Photographic) on pleasure and business!

You guys are very helpful! Thank you. Here are some pictures. The spring is about 3" long. You can see the piece that broke off.

Thanks, Rick!

Those are available. Schaff 581, page 147. If that bend near the screw holes is necessary, you can heat it with a torch to anneal it there, but it may be that just screwing it down will do the job.

You may want to just call the supply house's - Schaff/Pianotek, they have more stuff than listed in their catalogs... but I think BDB's right...

So it has the bend towards the end? It's hard to tell from the picture in their catalog.

Thanks!

The bend at the opposite end from the screw holes is there. There is no bend at the screw holes, other than the curvature of the entire spring. I am sure you can adapt it. That is what you have to do when repairing old pianos.

Parts like this are really cheap. Get a few and experiment. There will be other times when you need them.

Sorry, no luck here... we have whats offered by Schaff

I'll just order the Schaff one and make due. I have no trouble adapting. Thanks everyone!

I've been on vacation for 11 weeks. Thanks for the plug Dan.

I think I might have one like that here in my shop, not positive, just got back from vacation and haven't looked but the others are correct. I do believe if you were to call Schaff or Pianotek, giving the exact measurements of the spring, they should have a duplicate in their warehouse some place.

Vacation for 11 weeks??!! Wow...that's a new measure of success around here! I peeled off 9 days this month and I'm still being punished!!

RPD

Oooooooooops!! I Meant to say 11 days!!! Man, is it ever easy to type something wrong and not catch it!!

Well, I did the math...and if you were on vacation for 11 WEEKS, you'd have been taking it pretty easy then, at the PTG convention...

But, I saw you there...and it didn't LOOK like you were all that well-rested LOL. (You still looked better though than your avatar!)

Hope you enjoyed the 11 days man!!

RPD

Thanks Rick! Conventions are tiring for sure! I had a hell of a time staying awake even in some of the best classes. Maybe that's a sign of old age! Nap time! Loved the time off for sure!

Just an update: The stock spring from Schaff worked fine with a little bending adjustments. Next up, I have to finish an action rebuild I'm doing for a local kid's museum. I'm only charging them for parts, not labor, but they are going to put a big sign next to the piano with my name and number on it and some cards. Free advertising! That's what I'm talking about!