1902 Crown Upright
© Ward and Probst, Inc-1998-2015
This nice old upright was brought into the shop after an unfortunate moving incident. Moving a piano this size is tricky business for the untrained. Both toed legs and the treble end blocking were damaged. The bass side caster and the bottom board were destroyed.
That's a 12mm (approximately 1/2 inch) solid steel shaft that lost it's wheel after only 113 years!
The treble end caster held but the block it was attached to moved up and back from the force of impact.
The toed leg completely seperated from the case with remarkably little damage.
The bass leg held better as the caster took the brunt of the blow.
Here are the parts that need to be reattached and/or replaced.
The old caster was riveted to 1/4 inch steel plate. The assembly held but the caster disappeared.
The rivets were drilled out, the remains of the old caster removed and replaced with a used caster due to the unusal size of the original caster.
We made a new tenon for the treble leg.
The Bessey clamps make the glue up of the ornate legs an easy chore.
The bottom board is a lost cause, forcing us to construct a new board.
Before we begin on the bottom board, we take time to glue up the leg assemblies. They will dry while we are working on the new board
After clean up the unique cover for the pedals displays the Crown logo and the fervent desire of the builder, Geo. P. Bent.
Pedal trapwork is installed on the new board which was built by with a combination of hand and power tools.
New pedal board installed.
Two six inch long 3/8 inch dowels will help to reinforce the blocking on the treble end.
Final step is to trim the dowels, stain them and deliver this Crown back to it's home port.