Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Knabe Strike Point Adjustment Parts -- Missing

There are some parts missing on my 1929 Knabe grand. With the keyslip off, you can see horizontal holes that go into both end blocks, and through mortises that fit very loosely over tennons and screws on the key frame. I'm guessing that there were captive machine screws and some sort of metal clevises in these to set and hold the strike point fore and aft, while allowing the Una Corda motion perpendicular to the adjustment.

I really don't expect to find replacement parts, but I'm hoping someone might have drawings or pictures that would help in fabricating something to substitute for the missing pieces.


Thanks --

As I recall, Knabes had a threaded rod with a groove turned around the diameter, and a screw slot in front. The threads go into the cheek blocks, and the groove holds down the headless screws in the keyframe. Turning the rods with a screwdriver moves the groove and keyframe forward or back.

You should be able to adapt a standard plate to your piano if you do not want to go to a lot of trouble for an adjustment which is generally set and forget. Steinway calls them keyblock plates.

John, I tried to send you a PM, but the system is pretending that you don't exist. If I had your email address, I could send you pix of my strikepoint adjusters. I have two Knabes mfg. in the 20's and the setup is virtually identical even though one is 5'8" and the other is 9'.

Thanks, guys --

John, I sent you a PM with my e-mail address.

BDB, the threaded rod you describe makes a lot of sense, it would be a one-piece solution. I have access to a lathe (unfortunately 35 miles away from the piano), so it could be reasonable to make them from some all-thread.