I’m about to ship the keyframe with end-of-section keys, and the action frame with end-of-section hammers and wippens, to Reyburn Pianoworks in the US. The keyframe will be reconditioned — one cracked action frame support cleat will be repaired, the balance rail glide bolts will be replaced, as will all keyframe felts. A new keyset will then be custom-made to fit the keyframe. The action frame will get new hammer and wippen rails.
Why am I doing this?
Too many keys have issues that I don’t have the time to address in my workshop. Replacing the action frame’s hammer and wippen rails achieves two things: (1) errors in the position of the rails are eliminated; and (2) the likelihood of the rails cracking is eliminated.
Cracking action rails are a well-known problem with older Steinway action frames. Each action rail is made from a hardwood dowel encased in a hollow brass tube. The wooden dowels slowly absorb moisture and swell over the decades. and sometimes swell enough to cause the brass casing to develop longitudinal cracks. The cracks impact the alignment and action geometry of the wippen and hammer flanges they lie under. Repairing narrow cracks that have not completely split the brass casing only buys time.
All three of my 103 year-old action rails are intact. But experienced rebuilders have strongly advised me to have the hammer and wippen rails replaced.
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