9.01.15 – The Big Bad Chickering by Randy Mangus

Posted on: August 18th, 2015 by Calvin

This Chickering was the biggest challenge since the parts are not mounted at 90 degrees to the rails and the action brackets were wood and the flanges were metal. Restoring this obsolete action would not have been possible without a WN&G complete top and back action. It only had bass sustain for the middle pedal before, but now has full sostenuto.


 

 

Service Spotlight

The hammer boring to my very unorthodox specs for this action was perfect. The manufacturers sample parts kit made it easy to work out all the dimensions for setting up the action even before parts were ordered. Down-weight came out at 46-48 grams, up-weight at 24-25 grams with some key re-leading and action ratio at 5.5/1.

Randy Mangus


Rebuild Pictures

The Wessell, Nickel &amp Gross Manufactures Kit allows the technician to test out the geometry of any action. The kit is $225.00 and refundable upon purchase of an assembled or unassembled top or back action.

Part # 06-5325

Part # 06-5325

Mock up with WNG mfg kit

Mock up with WNG mfg kit

02
Finding the magic line

Finding the magic line

Original with underlevers too

Original with underlevers too

05
Top flanges were for threaded damper wires

Top flanges were for threaded damper wires

Marking new underlever rail

Marking new underlever rail

Center punching rail

Center punching rail

New back action

New back action

Keys need extensions

Keys need extensions

Locating hammer center pin elevation and position

Locating hammer center pin elevation and position

1st part on new action

1st part on new action

13

Drilling new hole in long Renner type flange

Drilling new hole in long Renner type flange

Cutting off whippen back extensions

Cutting off whippen back extensions

Shanks and whippens installed

Shanks and whippens installed

A big thanks to Randy Mangus for taking on this project and for letting us tell his story! If you have a WNG rebuild project that you’d like to share with us and have featured here, please email Nina Butler at nina@wessellnickelandgross.com!