Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Stodart/Hammers

Pictured here are the disassembled components of the hammers, shanks, butts, flange plate, and axle pin, which are in groups of 12, 13, or 14, along the hammer rail.
The first group, containing numbers 1-13, has been reassembled, with new cedar shanks installed.
The action of this this instruments bears several similarities with that of the modern piano, specifically, a butt pivoting on a center pin/axle which, in turn, is held into place on a flange via a brass flange plate.
While this design contributes greatly to the precision, stability and subsequent responsiveness of the action, the future replacement of broken hammer shanks will require the removal of the entire group of hammers, shanks, butts, etc. in which it falls.
For the modern piano technician, this could be recognized as the precursor to the brass rail flange, as found in the Sohmer vertical piano.