Nonuniform gaps between keys

[cbechstein2]

Hello Everyone,

I have a vintage C. Bechstein model V that I purchased that has an odd problem. When I look at the keys, the gap between each key is non-uniform. I have looked all over this forum as well as other piano forums and could find nothing on the subject of what would be causing this. Curious, but knowing absolutely nothing about how piano actions work, I gently took the action out to investigate further (not that I would attempt to fix it myself, I was just curious to see if there were spacers that had compressed or something between the keys). To my horror I found that this nonuniform spacing also extended to the hammers. Some hammers had large gaps inbetween each other and others were actually rubbing (which would explain why some keys are sticking and some have a lot of resistance and poor repetition). Is this a simple repair for piano technician or does the entire action need to be rebuilt?

The action had the word Isermann cast into it. The serial number was unfortunetly painted over by some inconsiderate previous owner (I found that out the hard way by giving bechstein archive service the case number thinking it was the serial number and getting the wrong piano) but looking it up on the internet from the case number of 8561, it appears it is an 1892. I have pictures of the keys below but forgot to take pictures of the hammers. I can take pictures if you guys would like. What do you guys think?





Thanks you

[silverwoodpianos]

What do you guys think?

I think you need some grand action regulation, perhaps some key bushing repairs, and in the future there will be ivory repairs unless you want the cracked ones repaired while your favorite piano technician is doing the mechanical corrections.

[pristinepiano]

If there is significant lateral/side to side movement on the front of the keys they will likely need to be re-bushed as Dan mentions. The bushing cloth that sits in the sides of the key mortise does eventually wear with use.  Afterwards they can be more evenly spaced to each other if needed.  A tech will bend the pin the mortise sits on left or right slightly to even out the gaps. 

Sometimes the ivory itself (or even the key front material) might vary in width a bit and overhang the key edges slightly and this can give the illusion of poor spacing too. This should be fixed also if thats the case.  Some of your keys may not be level either, and tilt a bit too much (A note in picture).  Easy fix, with a little bump left or right to the top of balance rail pin.

The issue of hammer spacing is unrelated to the key front spacing since the capstan (contact point at back of keystick) can be slightly adjusted to center under the action parts.  Ideally, the hammers should line up straight and centered on the strings (strings can sometimes be unevenly spaced themselves).  The hammer should move in a path thats perpendicular to the string plane (called "travel").  If either of these 2 things is slightly off, the hammers can look unevenly spaced when at rest.  Have a tech look at it and some regulating will likely be in order.