Today I had a first apointment with a Story & Clark grand, model 158.

I needed to pull the action to space a few hammers. No big deal except for the fact that I could not remove the keyslip. I'm sure I spent at least an hour trying! It is not screwed from the bottom. It is held in place with three wood dowels in the bottom of the keyslip that go into the keybed, so it makes sense that it should simply be removed by lifting it upward. I couldn't do it by hand, so with the owners permission I worked carefully with a wide bladed screw driver to try and pry it upward. No problem from the center area, but the closer I got to both ends, the less I could move it. It was as if it were attached to the keyblocks. So, I have to wonder if they are in fact attached, and if so, I need to first remove the keyblocks and perhaps the keyslip with them. However...

I cannot see ANY way to remove the keyblocks. There are no screws from the bottom holding them in place. There's a little rubber rest in both keyblocks for the fallboard when lowered over the keys. It does not conceal a screw underneath. Nor is there a screw at the back end of the keyblock (which is under the fallboard when it is in its upward position). If I could remove the keyslip I expect I'd see a screw going through the side attaching it to the case. But, alas, I can't get the keyslip off!

The only thing I have concluded is that the the keyslip should simply be removed by lifting it upward but something is binding it at the ends by the keyblocks. Or, there's some design quirk that, once known, will solve the problem.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

(The most recent SN listing i'n the Pierce Piano Atlas for S & C is 707000 for 1998; this pianos SN is 901xxx so it is apparently not very old.)

I'm no tech...but do work in the automotive field and have used a nylon tool for doing trim work on cars to remove my keyslip...I gave one to my tech too. The automotive industry uses them at the assembly plants...
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I've seen a lot of recent Story & Clarks. All are Dongbeis. Never heard of a 158 though.

All the ones I have seen are the typical design where the keyslip is held down in place by the cheekblocks, thus the cheekblocks must be removed first.

The cheekblocks are fastened with large wing-headed screws that are extremely obvious to see underneath the keybed.

I have no explanation for a "158" or for one that has no screws visible under the keybed.

I once did a job on a Young Chang designer piano. When the movers set it up, they put the front legs on the wrong sides. Left on right and vice versa. The way the legs were made, this covered up the screws giving access to the cheek block screws. I had to call the movers and have them come back to switch the legs. Maybe this could be the case here? Most times legs are interchangeable, these were a designer type ornate legs. One thing is for sure, you have to take the cheek blocks out first. Good luck.