CBH Extracting the fortepiano action I — Walter c1805

• Always read the accompanying technical description!

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Carey Beebe demonstrating how to safely extract the action of a Walter-type fortepiano.

WARNING: If this procedure is not carefully followed, it is possible to break several hammer shanks!

The action retaining pin is pulled from its hole through the wrestplank, and placed to one side. With palms turned outwards, the front of the keyframe is supported by the thumbs while the ornamental acorns on both keyend blocks are grasped with the fingers. Ensuring that no notes of the keyboard are depressed, the keyframe is pulled slightly forward, allowing it to drop down the ramp at the rear of the keybed. After a moment to further ensure that all the hammers are at rest and therefore safely below wrestplank level, the keyframe can now be pulled directly back and clear of the instrument.

To replace the action, the keyframe is positioned in the case, and both ends pushed in with the palms. When the keyframe is almost in, the fingers are curled around the front edges of the case. Some more effort may be required at this point so the keyframe ramps up to playing position. The action retaining pin is then replaced to secure the frame.

Fortepiano after Walter & Sohn c1805 by Paul McNulty 2001,
Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• fortepiano
• pianoforte
• piano
• forte
• Hammerklavier
• Hammerflügel
• hammarklaver
• 古鋼琴
• フォルテピアノ
• 포르테피아노
• action
• keyframe
• keyboard
• Viennese
• Walter
• hpschdnu