Where can I obtain a replacement tine for a toy piano

[Keshav Das]

I found a really sweet on in Mexico and re-furbished it but it is
missing
one of the tines. I tried to replace it with an equivalent size piece
of
music wire - but it sounds dead. Not sure what the correct material
is for a replacement. Anyone out there know?
Thanks,
KD

[JeanDavid]

What kind of piano is it (who made it). If Schoenhut, perhaps they
could get you a suitable wire. You would have to tell them the model
it is, if you can. If it is like mine, there is no way you can get the
old wire out and the new wire in that I know of. I hope I am wrong,
but for mine, I think it requires heating the block the wires are
inserted in hot enough to get the old one out. But talk to them, they
might be able to help you. Or sell you an entire tone rod assembly.

If it is not a Schoenhut, I am not sure what to suggest. If it is a
Michelsonne, it WILL be worth your trouble to find a way to fix it.

[Pawel Romanczuk]

Hi !
it's not easy to find the right piece of metal rods to replace it, because :
1- the alloy steel should be specific
2- the shape of rod should be like at the picture
You can't buy it in the store, i think the best and quick idea is buy some
ruined old cheap toy piano and take from the rod.

Could you please, send the photo of your toy piano ?
What exacly note do you need ?

best wishes !
Pawel

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[JeanDavid]

On Apr 5, 1:58 pm, "Pawel Romanczuk" <ye...@o2.pl> wrote:
> Hi !
> it's not easy to find the right piece of metal rods to replace it, because :
> 1- the alloy steel should be specific
> 2- the shape of rod should be like at the picture
> You can't buy it in the store, i think the best and quick idea is buy some
> ruined old cheap toy piano and take from the rod.
>
> Could you please, send the photo of your toy piano ?
> What exacly note do you need ?
>
> best wishes !
> Pawel
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Keshav Das" <keshavmu...@gmail.com>
> To: "Toy Piano Time" <toypia...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 6:10 PM
> Subject: Where can I obtain a replacement tine for a toy piano
>
> >I found a really sweet on in Mexico and re-furbished it but it is
> > missing
> > one of the tines. I tried to replace it with an equivalent size piece
> > of
> > music wire - but it sounds dead. Not sure what the correct material
> > is for a replacement. Anyone out there know?
> > Thanks,
> > KD
>
>
>

>  IMG_9546.JPG
> 659KViewDownload

The image shows the block that holds the tone wires of a Schoenhut
piano very well. Even a missing one.
With mine, a 379M from early 2009, the rods cannot be moved, much less
removed. I tried hammering one just enough to make one of the notes
sharper (it was a semitone flat), and it would not move at all. I
ended up shortening it a little with a dremel tool and a fine grinding
wheel.
The steel is extremely hard, and I got nowhere with an ordinary metal
file.

If you are lucky, yours may ge a tight press fit, but I imagine my
rods may have been cooled and the block heated to get the rods in.
Shrink fit, as it were.

[Keshav Das]

Hi - the rod is exactly like those in your photo. One eighth inch diameter
and four and 7/8 inches long. I tried using a piece of music wire which
is what a local instrument repair guy recommended.
Thanks
Keshav

[JeanDavid]

On Apr 5, 2:39 pm, Keshav Das <keshavmu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi - the rod is exactly like those in your photo. One eighth inch diameter
> and four and 7/8 inches long. I tried using a piece of music wire which
> is what a local instrument repair guy recommended.
> Thanks
> Keshav
>
> On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 1:58 PM, Pawel Romanczuk <ye...@o2.pl> wrote:
> > Hi !
> > it's not easy to find the right piece of metal rods to replace it, because
> > :
> > 1- the alloy steel should be specific
> > 2- the shape of rod should be like at the picture
> > You can't buy it in the store, i think the best and quick idea is buy some
> > ruined old cheap toy piano and take from the rod.
>
> > Could you please, send the photo of your toy piano ?
> > What exacly note do you need ?
>
> > best wishes !
> > Pawel
>

> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keshav Das" <keshavmu...@gmail.com>

> > To: "Toy Piano Time" <toypia...@googlegroups.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 6:10 PM
> > Subject: Where can I obtain a replacement tine for a toy piano
>
> >  I found a really sweet on in Mexico and re-furbished it but it is
> >> missing
> >> one of the tines. I tried to replace it with an equivalent size piece
> >> of
> >> music wire - but it sounds dead. Not sure what the correct material
> >> is for a replacement. Anyone out there know?
> >> Thanks,
> >> KD
>

I would not expect music wire to work. Music wire is expected to be
under tension to get the requied stiffness.
Toy piano tines are not under tension, so the stiffness required
depends on the material and its heat treatment.

Try getting in touch with Renee Trinca (CEO of Schoenhut) who will
either be able to answer you, or put you in touch with someone who
will.
http://www.toypiano.com/contact.asp

[Pawel Romanczuk]

The rods on the photo are not Schoenhut, just french Michelsonne.

What the kind of piano do you have ? Is the Schoenhut one, which model ?

[JeanDavid]

On Apr 5, 3:35 pm, "Pawel Romanczuk" <ye...@o2.pl> wrote:
> The rods on the photo are not Schoenhut, just french Michelsonne.
> What the kind of piano do you have ? Is the Schoenhut one, which model ?
>
> Pawel
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Keshav Das
>   To: toypia...@googlegroups.com
>   Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 8:39 PM
>   Subject: Re: Where can I obtain a replacement tine for a toy piano
>
>   Hi - the rod is exactly like those in your photo. One eighth inch diameter
>   and four and 7/8 inches long. I tried using a piece of music wire which
>   is what a local instrument repair guy recommended.
>   Thanks
>   Keshav
>
>   On Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 1:58 PM, Pawel Romanczuk <ye...@o2.pl> wrote:
>
>     Hi !
>     it's not easy to find the right piece of metal rods to replace it, because :
>     1- the alloy steel should be specific
>     2- the shape of rod should be like at the picture
>     You can't buy it in the store, i think the best and quick idea is buy some ruined old cheap toy piano and take from the rod.
>
>     Could you please, send the photo of your toy piano ?
>     What exacly note do you need ?
>
>     best wishes !
>     Pawel
>

>     ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keshav Das" <keshavmu...@gmail.com>

>     To: "Toy Piano Time" <toypia...@googlegroups.com>
>     Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2011 6:10 PM
>     Subject: Where can I obtain a replacement tine for a toy piano
>
>       I found a really sweet on in Mexico and re-furbished it but it is
>       missing
>       one of the tines. I tried to replace it with an equivalent size piece
>       of
>       music wire - but it sounds dead. Not sure what the correct material
>       is for a replacement. Anyone out there know?
>       Thanks,
>       KD
>

Mine are Schoenhut and look a lot like the ones in the photo. The
block on the Schoenhut is a little bigger. Mine has 37 notes.
But the rods look a lot alike. Perhaps if Keshav Das has a Schoenhut,
they could help him. If he has the same model Michelsonne that you
have, Schoenhut tines would work. I am surprised Michelsonne used wire
tines. I thought they used metal bars. Maybe that varied depending on
model. Michelsonne sound so much nicer than the Schoenhuts, although
Schoenhuts are kind of cute.

[JeanDavid]

On Apr 5, 3:35 pm, "Pawel Romanczuk" <ye...@o2.pl> wrote:

> The rods on the photo are not Schoenhut, just french Michelsonne.
> What the kind of piano do you have ? Is the Schoenhut one, which model ?
>
> Pawel

P.S.: Mine is a 379M
http://www.toypiano.com/product_information.asp?html_model_number=379M

[Keshav Das]

Hi Pawel,
       The maker is unknown. I'm certain it does not matter who the maker is.
What matters is the length and diameter of the rod - which will create the
required sound. The piano has been re-finished and only the front panel
retains the original finish and it just says: Grand Piano.
Thanks,
K

[Pawel Romanczuk]

Keshav, if it's any problem, please, send the photo. Is very interesting for me to see your piano.

[JeanDavid]

On Apr 5, 5:29 pm, Keshav Das <keshavmu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Pawel,
>        The maker is unknown. I'm certain it does not matter who the maker
> is.
> What matters is the length and diameter of the rod - which will create the
> required sound. The piano has been re-finished and only the front panel
> retains the original finish and it just says: Grand Piano.
> Thanks,
> K

As I said before, you had best get in touch with Renee Trinca at
Schoenhut. If your rods are like those in Pawel Romanczuk's
photograph, then they are very much like the Schoenhut ones. Yours
might also be a Jaymar, and the present Schoenhut company is the
merger of the old Jaymar and Schoenhut companies. Your rods will need
not only to be the right diameter, but the right stiffness, and also
one end is ground to a smaller diameter than the other. The free end
is of greater diameter than the end that fits into the block. My guess
is that Schoenhut will either have to do the replacement, or send you
an entire new block and rod assembly. But talk or write to them.

[Matt Walsh]

It may be difficult. I've found that the currently available materials
tend not to sound like their older counterparts. Kinda like putting
one new guitar string on a guitar with really old strings. You
probably just have to deal with it.

Matt

[Keshav Das]

Much thanks. I'll be giving them a call tomorrow.
Cheers,
Keshav

[technob...@gmail.com]

Hi ! I'm from France, sorry for my English
It's very easy to make a new "string", I'd already made on for my piano :
You need :
- A metalic (steel) rod with right diameter. Take a lenght a little bit longer than the next on.
- A drill (A drill press is better because it doesn't move, but you can use a classic one and try to tie the drill to the table)
- A file for the metal
- A hacksaw
- A hammer

You put the metallic rod into the drill then you turn on (not to fast) and you rasp the metallic rod as a stemmed champagne glass to slim the metallic rod (2 ou 2.5 inch from the end). Look an other right mettalic rod "string" from your piano to know how you should have the thickness.
After that, you need to tune you new string. If you have a vice, tie your string in and try to hit it softly, it should sound. If it's too low note, cut it just a little bit (be carreful, the thickness is fragile, and don't cut to much, if not, you'll need to make a new one ! Cut little by little... until to have the right note...
At the end, crush a little bit the end (the small side) with you hammer. Next, put the string into the hole from back (the big side) : at the end (small side), your string should not enter easily in the hole. Then strike it gently to put it in...

I hope I'm clear, good luck.
Igor