Flagpoling with T hammer?

[David Boyce]

The batch of tuning levers including T levers (or T hammers as they tend
to be called in UK piano parlance) I just bought on Ebay made me think
about the practicalities or otherwise of the T hammer.

I can't see them as a practical proposition for a day's tuning on modern
pianos.  We applaud the leverage given by the long shaft of the Fujan
lever (and it's lightweight rigidity too of course). There is the
possibility of great control with such a lever. Certainly, though, some
tuners do seem to like a fairly short-ish lever, for some jobs anyway. 
But the T lever only gives you two to three inches of leverage, each
side of the shaft.  For the small pins of a harpsichord, and the lower
tensions, I can see a T lever working OK.  But on a modern piano pinblock?

Did tuners of old who used them, have phenomenally strong wrists?  You
cant get the weight of your arm and body into the equation, as you can
with an L shaped lever (or the Levitan C lever of course).

Do you think tuners of old, perhaps on open-face pinblocks, tuned by
outrageous flagpoling?

Best regards,

David B.

[Patrick Draine]

David, Are you familiar with the Reyburn CyberHammer for grand pianos? It’s an impact hammer/lever but has the “no flagpoling” aspect of a T-lever (actually it’s a V-lever!). It’s rather expensive so I’m not suggesting you go buy one to complete your collection. 

Patrick Draine

[David Boyce]

Indeed I am. I had a look at it at MARC in 2011 and thought it very
beautiful!  It would be most interesting to try it out.

As for traditional T levers, what I was wondering was whether in fact
the tuners who used them bent the pin up and down (uprights) and back
and forward (grands) terribly, using the leverage of the shaft, rather
than only turning the pins.  If they stuck to pure turning only, they
must have had incredibly strong wrists.

Best regards,

David B.

[Jon Page]

Michael Gamble on the p-tech list says he uses one and his wrists are very strong.

[Joseph Garrett]

"Popeye Arms"!<G> There are a few that still use them. I've run into them in classes I've given.<G>
I do covet your oblong "T".
Most of yours are true "tuning hammers" as they have steel ends on the handle that were for driving tuning pins in the process of changing out a string. A few had stringing hooks on them as well. The hook was the other end of the shaft above the handle. Not very practical for extended use but was useful in stringing.
I have two Hale T Hammers that also have the added "socket" in the middle of the vertical shaft that accepted a Hale extension tuning hammer. Since I work on the really olde beasts I do use my antique collection.<G>
Best,
Joe


Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com

[Regi Hedahl]

Are there any reviews on the Reyburn CyberHammer for grand pianos? Do they work very similar to the impact hammers for uprights? One advantage I can see is there is no handle to get in the way especially when tuning the top actave. Is there any time saving using this lever?

Regi

[John Formsma]

I used one of these levers for a few months after a rotator cuff surgery. It works well, although it took a while to get used to the technique.  I never felt like it was fast enough compared to a traditional lever. It always took longer, so I went back to a traditional lever after the shoulder was strong again.

With the grand impact lever, sometimes there is not enough clearance in the extreme bass and treble. 

 I mostly use the smooth pull method because it’s the easiest on my body. Those using a traditional lever with an impact method might find the grand impact lever works well for them, especially if they have shoulder pain. 

--

John Formsma, RPT

New Albany, MS