Up until about 1918 Bluthner used their own Patent Action in their pianos. For a grand piano, this action was strikingly different from the more standard ‘Roller’ action. Regulating these actions cannot be done by trying to apply the procedure used for the roller action.
These instructions are based on a leaflet produced as a guide to regulating these pianos. Some familiarity with these actions is absolutely necessary before attempting this work.
The necessary operations must be carried out strictly in the following order. The fitting of the Bluthner Action is based on a tough depth of 9 mm and a hammer-blow of 45 mm.
These instructions are based on a leaflet produced as a guide to regulating these pianos. Some familiarity with these actions is absolutely necessary before attempting this work.
1. The hammer heads should be spaced exactly to the strings and the hammer-flange screws should be tightened.
Bluthner Patent Action |
7. It is now necessary again to check the touch throughout.
The abstract |
9. The damper shade-rail has to be adjusted so that when pressing down the sharps, there is very little play.
10. The coiled spring which is attached to the abstract should, in the normal position of the key, not rest on the jack, but remain about 3 mm from it. An even touch is of the greatest importance.
© Steve Burden
Pianology
I have an unusual situation with a Bluthner Style 8 1902 with patent action.
ReplyDeleteIt is about the interaction between the jack, set-off and the checks.
The checks come into play and hold up the hammers either when the key is held down on slow playing or with repetition when the rising checks come into contact with the falling hammer and before the next blow.
In both cases where should the jack be. On slow playing I see no purpose in the checks. All would be accomplished if they did not exist.
On repetition the it seems to me that the jack should be released to just below the nose of the abstract so as to enable the abstract and hammers to be projected upwards for the second blow.
It seems to me that if the jack is not below the nose of the abstract when the hammers are in check the repetition will be propelled only under the force of the repeat or abstract spring.
Any enlightenment on this matter and the interaction of these two parts of the action would be appreciated.