Hello everybody!

Continuing the thread from Postcard No.6, and because of ChopinAddict's interest in Haddie's welfare, here are some pictures of the progress in the refurbishing part of the project...

I'm currently having a little problem with a blocked hammer that happens when I go to put the action in, so I can't promise any recordings this weekend until I get that problem solved. So here's a quote from a past episode, "Any restoration or refurbishing project starts with a thorough cleaning and inspection... ...so I'll just run my hands through the dust here and see if I find anything interesting!"

The keybed cleaning yielded about a dozen hairpins, half a dozen toothpicks, an ivory keytop (a tail piece), a keytop chip that actually fit back into place, a black button, a straight pin, dried plant leaves, and two other things mentioned below.

A big, big Thank You to Bill Bremmer for encouraging me in this endeavor. I was going to practice this stuff on the Schiller and then move to the Haddorff, but Bill basically said, "C'mon. Let's go!" and proceeded to show me how to replace and clean the key tops and how to clean the bass strings. So we are on the way!!!

--Andy




BEFORE:








IN PROGRESS:






Fixing keytops:



Scrubbing bass strings with a wire brush:






AFTER:




And the bass strings are clean:





Oh, and here's a funny picture that explains at least two rattling key sounds:




I found this penny as I was taking the piano apart. 1995 was the date on the penny. Haddie told me that someone once gave her a penny for her thoughts. My experience with her is that, when prompted, she gives her thoughts pretty freely! I've also got one other funny thing that I found in the keybed that I will have to post later. Stay tuned!

Thanks for you interest!

Looks like the jobs going pretty well. I'll be sure to stay tuned for updates. I'm also sure that Haddie will not be requiring a penny for you to her her perspective.

Here's the other funny thing. Those are the hairpins, toothpicks, the button (I used the ivory tail piece and chip that I found)... and there is this slip of paper with the number 1 that was also in the dusty keybed. What does it mean? "Inspected by No. 1" ???





--Andy

WOW, you did a great job and Haddie must be VERY proud of you.

Wow, really very good job!

I wonder how could anyone had (or have? whatever) tossed some toothpicks inside the piano, that's very funny, but also pretty weird (and kind of disgusting ).

The button, that's easy. It was Benjamin Button, while he was playing Scott Joplin's Bethena ! (he also used to play the scott Joplin's piano )

I think No.1 simply means that Haddie is No.1, the best of the best... She wants to give you a hint, although I am sure you already know...

Andy,

Your blocking problem is probably a broken bridal strap. Without it, when the action is removed, the whippen drops down. When the action is placed back in, the jack jams. Replace the bridal strap and your problem will probably be solved but make sure it is the same length as the other straps.

Thanks, Jer!

The bridal straps are "newer." After much fiddling and poking around, and looking at the diagram in the book--it looks like the problem is that the jack is bound up in the hammer butt felt. Now, if I can just free it withough breaking anything... Man, it's hard to see anything in there!!!

They could still be to long allowing the whippen to go down to far which will allow the jack to slip underneath the butt.

I DOOD IT!

It was easy, once I figgerd out which part to flick... (the jack knuckle). Until then, it was not easy, because I was lost in space.

Thanks, Jer, for helping me see what I had to see!

Now I can play my piano again, and, at least for now, I am the Dood! Yippee-skippee!!!



P.S.:

In this adventure, I learned:

1. how to clean and replace keytops and clean bass strings (thanks Bill!)
2. how to take off and put back on a damper (when I was trying to see what was going on... completely unnecessary in this case, but good experience)
3. where hammer springs and damper springs go (see above)
4. how to un-hook and hook back up a bridle strap (also unnecessary in this case, but good experience!)
5. what hammer butt felt, jacks, jack knuckles and whippens are (thanks, Jer!)
6. how to put the action back in vewwy keewfuwwy...
7. how many missing pieces my piano has (lots or little felts and screws are gone)
8. I have lots to learn and lots to do
9. I can dood it!

I like number 7. I think I was born with loose screws. Not sure about missing felts but, I might be missing an oar or 4?

Hello, everybody!

I crossposted some of this in the Tuner/Tech forum in the thread, "So, what did you do today?"

Bill Bremmer, RPT, came over today to work on Haddie and show me how to do some things. Prior to his arrival, I had taken the action out, unhooked all the bridal straps and took off all the dampers. I tried replacing a hammer flange butt plate, but couldn't get the thing to work right. Found out later that the screws that came with the plates I ordered were too big for the holes in the flange by a micro-little-bit.

Anyway, when Bill came over, he checked the work that I had done cleaning the bass strings and replacing missing ivories. Then, we went to the action, took off the hammer spring rail, and he had me buzz the new butt plates with the dremmel grinder to round their edges off a little. He re-pinned the hammers in the middle section, a few in the bass, and a few in the treble while replacing about 2 doz. butt plates. During this process, he discovered that some of the hammers had been placed out of order at some point in the piano's history and worked that puzzle for a while.

Meanwhile, I cleaned the rust and the dust off the hammer rail springs with alcohol and steel wool and retensioned them. Then I started cleaning the damper wires and springs, retensioned the springs, and lightly sanded the damper felts. When Bill had all the hammers moving the way he wanted them, he re-shaped them. We put the hammer spring rail back on and put the springs back in place, then Bill lubed the damper rod.

I still have about half the dampers to clean and sand yet. (Hey, I may not be fast, but at least I'm slow!)

Man, did I ever learn a lot today! Plus, we had a great time swapping stories and listening to jazz while we worked! In between the jazz, instructions, explanations of what he was doing, descriptions of what other work needed to be done on the piano, stories, and laughs, Bill would occasionally spontaneously break into song: recitatives from an upcoming Handel oratorio! Life is good.


Bill Bremmer shaping hammers:



Me sanding dampers:




Clean dampers with re-tensioned springs:




So, if you wonder why there hasn't been a Haddorff Postcard lately, well, this is kinda why. Stay tuned!!!

--Andy

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Previous Haddorff Postcards:

Haddorff Postcard [No.1] with "Deep Purple"
Haddorff Postcard No.2 with "I Love Her"
Haddorff Postcard No.3 with "Yes, Sir! That's My Baby"
Haddorff Postcard No.4 with "Mistress Murphy's Chowder"
Haddorff Postcard No.5 with "All Alone"
Haddorff - (no postcard) with "He Wipes The Tear From Every Eye" played on the Haddorff
Haddorff Postcard No.6 with "Constantinople"
Haddorff Pictures (no postcard, yet)
Haddorff Postcard No.7 with a couple of Scriabin Preludes
Haddorff Postcard No. 8 with Bach Snippets and The Perfect Nanny

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For more information about EBVT III, see grandpianoman's thread:

My Piano In EBVT III

Andy -

I have a feeling that your Haddie is going to sound and play like a Bosie by the time you complete her makeover !!!

This is really fascinating to watch !!

Indeed, carey. This piano was a nice find!

Here's an artsy action shot of Bill shaping hammers: