Whippen Assembly

The Whippen Assembly - where do they come up with these names?!?  Actually, the grouping of parts commonly referred to as the 'whippen assembly' is 3 separate groupings: Whippen; Repetition Mechanism; and the Jack & Let-Off Button.  

We'll go over each area of the whippen assembly in the next couple of weeks. Below are pictures of both a wooden and a composite whippen assembly on grand pianos.  You can see they are generally configured the same, with design differences specific to the manufacturer:

Traditional Wooden Whippen Assembly

Composite Whippen Assembly

You can readily see the whippen assembly is located directly underneath the hammer shank, and over the top of the key stick.  The whippen assembly transmits the motion of the key to the hammer, which in turn strikes the string to produce the musical sound.

The whippen, is the lower half of the assembly and is in direct contact with the key.  

• 1. Heel
• 2. Heel Cushion
• 3. Body
• 4. Flange
• 5. Flange Rail 
• 6. Hammer Shank Rest Post
• 7. Rest Cushion
• 8. Jack Flange
• 9. Spoon

Specifically, it works like this:  the Heel (1) rests on the capstan screw which is attached to the key.  When the key is depressed, the whippen is set into motion by the capstan screw pushing upward on the Heel Cushion (2) causing the Whippen Body (3) to move.  The body rotates on the Flange (4) which is supported by and attached to the Flange Rail (5).  The Hammer Shank Rest (6) is located at the back of the whippen directly under the hammer shank and topped with the Rest Cushion (7), a felt cushion on which the hammer shank rests when not in motion.  The Jack Flange (8) is built into the opposite end of the whippen to position the jack and allow it to rotate.  The Spoon (9) supports the jack in the proper position.

Next week we'll see how the remaining two parts of the Whippen Assembly contribute to the overall movement.

"The Disclaimer" - Technical Tuesdays are intended to give folks who are curious about pianos a bit more understanding of all those technical terms thrown about by piano technicians.  This is not intended for super-in-depth technical analysis, nor micro measurements; just general knowledge for those who are interested in how a piano works.

Hammer Shanks

The last piece of our hammer assembly is the 'shank'.  This is a long & slender shaped action piece.  Hammer shanks are produced in various sizes and shapes depending on the manufacture and model of piano.  All are generally cylindrical in shape.

On one end the hammer head is mounted (this strikes the string to produce the sound), and on the opposite end, the shank is attached to the flange (holds the hammer/shank assembly in position to precisely strike the string).

Grand Piano - Wooden Hammer Shank

Traditionally made of wood, hammer shanks are now also produced in a composite material that includes carbon fiber, creating a hammer shank that is strong and consistent in strength without being effected by humidity and climate changes.

Grand Piano - Carbon Fiber Composite Hammer Shank

 I love this picture above - don't the hammers look like little faces?  I like to call this one the "3 Stooges".  :)

Vertical Piano
Wooden Hammer Shank

We'll talk more about composite action parts as we move through the piano's action.


Next week - Whippen Assembly!


"The Disclaimer" - Technical Tuesdays are intended to give folks who are curious about pianos a bit more understanding of all those technical terms thrown about by piano technicians.  This is not intended for super in-depth technical analysis, nor micro measurements; just general knowledge for those who are interested in how a piano works.

Body Parts On A Piano?

It's Technical Tuesday & we're back after a short hiatus!  Today we'll be talking about 'Knuckles' and 'Butts'.  Body parts, you say?!?  Let's explore this a bit.

The same component in both a grand piano action and a vertical piano action has two different names.  On a grand piano it's the 'Knuckle'; on a vertical piano it's the 'Butt'.  

This small component is located at the lower (larger) end of the hammer shank, and rests atop the jack which controls the velocity of the  movement of the hammer from its resting point to the point where it strikes the string.  The velocity of this movement is determined by the speed and pressure applied to the piano keys by the player.

The Knuckle

On a grand piano the knuckle is attached to the underside of the hammer shank near the hammer flange.  The knuckle is small and round in shape, traditionally covered in buckskin.

The Butt

On a vertical piano, the butt is located directly on the end of the hammer shank.  A modified square/rectangular shape, the butt is also configured to rest on top of the jack.  Just like the comparable knuckle on the grand piano, this is also traditionally covered in buckskin.

Note: Pictures in this posting were taken of piano action models to allow for close-up, detailed views; and were taken of both traditional wood actions, as well as composite actions.

Next time, we'll take a look a the hammer shanks.  

"The Disclaimer" - Technical Tuesdays are intended to give folks who are curious about pianos a bit more understanding of all those technical terms thrown about by piano technicians.  This is not intended for super in-depth technical analysis, nor micro measurements; just general knowledge for those who are interested in how a piano works.

Humidity & Your Piano

Things got a little crazy around here this week, so we are having Technical Tuesday...on Wednesday.  :)

Your piano is made primarily of wood, which is not only beautiful, but a very versatile material.  This means your piano is also affected by humidity and climate changes.  Seasonal changes in humidity can cause wood parts to swell and shrink, affecting tuning stability and touch.  Humidity also affects the leather and felt materials in the piano's action, causing changes in dimension that affect regulation and friction.

What can you do to minimize humidity?

The first and most simple of precautions you can take is to position your piano away from areas where it would be exposed to extremes of temperature and humidity such as heating and cooling vents, stoves, doors and windows.  Direct sunlight is especially damaging.  If your home is not well insulated, an interior wall is preferable to an outside wall.

Controlling the humidity levels within your home is another step.  To monitor and measure the relative humidity changes in your home, moderately priced hygrometers are available at many home supply stores.

A practical solution to humidity problems in your home is to have a humidity control system installed in the piano itself.  The system has 3 parts:  a humidifier for adding moisture to the air, a dehumidifier for eliminating excess moisture, and a humidistat/control unit which senses the relative humidity of the air within the piano.  The humidistat/control unit activates the system to add or remove moisture only as needed.  The system is designed to maintain a relative humidity of 42%.  All components are installed out of view, and are very easy to maintain with minimal instruction.

How do you know if you need a humidity control system?

Your piano will tell you.  That bears repeating:  Your piano will tell you.  If you experience changes in the touch of the action, if your piano goes out of tune quickly after tuning service, or if you are noticing condensation on the metal parts of your piano, speak with your Technician.  Humidity may not be the only culprit.  Your experienced Technician will know best how to advise you.

Calling All Young Musicians!

If you are a young musician (or know one) between the ages of 10 & 18 years, start warming up your instrument! The Ocala Youth Symphony's 12th Season Auditions are fast approaching!

OYS provides solo and ensemble opportunities for young musicians, while encouraging excellence in musicianship. Performances have been enjoyed by our community since 1999, and this season promises to be lively, indeed! The annual Ocala Arts Festival, collaboration with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, and several other venues are scheduled for this year. All genres of music are played: Classical, Contemporary, Big Band, Jazz, Country & more!

Musicians are needed in all areas:
Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass; Woodwinds: clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon; Brass: trumpet, trombone, french horn, tuba; Percussion: snare, bass, timpani; and last, but certainly not least: piano and harp.

Where: First Christian Church, 1908 SE Ft. King St., Ocala, FL 34471

When: Saturday, August 21, 2010 & Saturday, August 28, 2010

Contact: Mrs. Cindy Robertson, Conductor (352) 854-7989

Preparation: Bring with you a prepared piece of music; sight reading and scales will be provided.

Visit the Symphony's website: http://www.ocalayouthsymphony.org/