The PTF from C3 Piano Services.
Designed with blind and partially sighted piano technicians in mind.
An aid for replacing under-cover strings on grand and upright pianos.
- Do you struggle with under-cover strings? Does the wire get tangled in the other strings?
- Do you find that when you have nearly finished, the new wire is wraped around another string?
- Does the stress of doing under-cover strings get to you? Do you spend more than twenty minutes replacing a string?
With the aid of the PTF it is possible for an experienced blind piano technician to replace an under-cover string in fifteen minutes. The PTF will speed you through the process of threading an under-cover string efficiently and stress free. Available exclusively from HJ Fletcher & Newman LTD, price £70.00 plus VAT and P & P where applicable.
HJ Fletcher & Newman Ltd
5 Bourne Enterprise Centre
Wrotham Road
Borough Green
Kent, TN15 8DG
Tel: (01732) 886555
Fax: (01732) 884789
Email: info@fletcher-newman.co.uk
Website: www.fletcher-newman.co.uk
The PTF is a telescopic guide for threading under-cover piano strings. It is a big time saver, and simple to use.
Instructions
(Not included, but essential for a stress free experience, is a small pair of mould-grips or vice-grips for holding the looped end of the string on the hitch pin, and the normal tools for restringing.)
- Remove old string as usual.
- Cut the desire length of piano string and straighten the ends for about 8 inches (200 mm).
- With the PTF closed, thread the wire through it, with the loop at the small end.
- Extend the PTF holding onto the strings to ensure that they do not pull out.
- Gently slide the looped end behind the bass strings. It helps to have a t-hammer on a wrest pin in order to stop the PTF from flopping around.
- position the loop over the hitch pin, and secure with vice-grips.
- Remove PTF taking care to keep the left hand string on the left, and the right hand string on the right. It is advisable to weave the strings into the wrest pins until needed.
- Finish as usual.
Sometimes, the PTF appears to be blocked. This problem can occur when trying to thread the PTF when it is extended. It is much easier to thread when closed. It can also appear blocked when closed. This is because of little pins which stop the tubes coming apart when the PTF is extended. It may also happen if the wire is curved. This is because the wire gets caught on the little pins. To resolve this:
- Make sure that the PTF is closed before threading.
- Straighten the wire as much as possible for the first 8 inches (200 mm).
- Rotate the wire as it is passed through the PTF. Do not force the wire through, just push and rotate. The wire should pass the pins easily when in the correct position. Patience brings its reward.
NB: The PTF is in continuous development, and specifications may change without notice. Guarantee is limited to twelve months for parts and fair use only. To claim, please return to C3 Piano Services Ltd at the address given below, together with a copy of HJ Fletcher & Newman's original invoice for the PTF and a description of what is wrong and how it happened.
Technical suport is by email info@theptf.com
The approximate dimensions of the PTF are 25 mm by 18 mm by 168 mm (or 1040 mm when fully extended), weight 150 g. Made by C3 Piano Service Ltd.
Address:
The PTF, C3 Piano Service Ltd
Herefordshire
Tel: 07712478562
Email: info@theptf.com
Website: www.theptf.com