Replacing strings on an Eavestaff Pianette.

[jackbriggs87]

Hi!
I'm new to the place and in need of help! If any of you can lend a hand I would really appreciate it. I've just been given an old 1930's Eavestaff Pianette. A strange art deco looking thing, black with chrome trim. The trouble is, it is missing the strings for the F3 and G3 strings. I've had a look in the back and these notes are sounded by 1 string each (only 2 strings providing the notes for the higher octaves), but they are both wound (copper or iron?) and slightly different thicknesses. I was wondering if anyone had access to a chart (or just knew!) which string gauges I should be looking to purchase to replace the missing strings. I am a guitarist by trade and us mere guitarists only have to deal with string gauges of 0.09-0.52 usually! I am clueless with thicker wound strings. If there is no exact recomendation for the particular piano I have, could anyone suggest a string gauge for me?
Thanks so much
Yours
Jack

[silverwoodpianos]

Those strings are used as a template to make replacements. As bass string sets are custom fitted, this type of work is done by a piano string maker.

The broken strings are sent to the string maker or the measurements of the core length and wrap length are sent.

[aatuners]

I'm fairly new to this website (registered ages ago!) ..... and I'm a piano tuner & technician that may be able to help. I fully restored an Art Deco 1930's Eavestaff a few years ago for a customer, and re-strung it also.
Firstly, you cant just order a bass string 'off the shelf' like you can with guitar strings, nor just order one with a piano tuner. Some piano bass strings can be up to about 4mm in thickness. If you still have the broken strings, these need to be sent off to a string maker (I only have in stock treble steel wire). If the strings are missing altogether, then you have to remove or tilt the mechanism & keyboard to get access. The neighbouring bass string is then measures in various places, and the stats sent off. Also, on these pianos, the coils are wound on anti-clockwise. If the mechanism has to be removed, this is quite a long process of removing all 73 lift rods. These pianos are nice to look at, sometimes tune OK - fit into small places etc.... but regarding action & string repairs, a pain in the $%^#!!

You will need to contact a piano tech guy who has had experience in these pianos...... some tuners wont repair them.  I have detailed stats & measurements for the treble strings, but no piano guy keeps stats for the bass strings, unless they have their own bass string making machine. Whereabouts do you live? I'm in West Yorkshire, UK.

The inner hexachord needs to be measures in mm using either digital vernier calipers or a micrometer; (usually around 1mm or 17 to 17.5 gauge) - then measure from the lowest point of the copper windings to the centre of the 'eye' of the loop that is hitched on the hitch pin, then measure the diameter and length of the copper windings in total. The measurements must be EXACT aswell, so the correct distance from the end of the windings steers around the bridge onto the hitch pin. If the measurements are wrong, (and say the windings are too long) - if they touch the bridge, the string wont sound & tune up.... and restringing a bass string on a piano is a completely different method to stringing a machine head peg on a guitar - and of course 'preserving' those combined long tuning pins is an art in itself!