I have been reading the thread on the Duo-Art cross valves and it
jogged my memory about how I solved this problem on a Steinway Duo-Art
grand I was rebuilding at that time, approx. 40 years ago.

I had shipped the piano from Salt Lake City to Spokane, Washington.
First off, I discovered the horrible valve leakage.  I studied the valve
construction; it appeared to me that the movable segment of the valve
couldn't align itself properly because the guide hole in the lower area
of the construction was too precise.  So I reamed all these lower guide
holes larger and then the valves seated fine and leakage was no longer
my problem.  Later I recall doing the same thing to a couple more
Steinway Duo-Art grand pianos.

One thing further on this thread: I noticed a referral to a comment
on this subject quoting Robin Cherry of the UK and a Duo-Art collector
and owner and I thought Robin's comment was very good.  Incidentally,
I have recently corresponded with Robin and he tells me he has been
coached re Duo-Art problems by Gerald Stonehill, famous Duo-Art
collector from the UK as well as I had been numerous times back in
the 1960s.  In fact, I still have the original tapes of recordings that
Gerald and I exchanged in those days before email and I would be happy
to donate them to Robbie for the Archives if he would like them.

Incidentally, tragically, Gerald has recently fallen victim to a stroke
and Robin has been so kind as to keep me informed a little bit about
Gerald's condition as he communicates with Gerald's wife, I believe.

Ellsworth Johnson
Spokane, Washington

 [ Thanks for your kind offer, Ellsworth, but I think the tapes really
 [ should be placed in a library, open to the public, where historians
 [ can hear them.  MBSI is planning a facility like this.  -- Robbie