Hello all,  After some years, I just tried to tune a Steck Duo-Art
and discovered that the tuning hammer I have from Germany (10 years
old, never used), with Hale type extra-long star tip, does not fit
correctly onto the pins.  It goes on but it rocks in and out then
slips off or falls off unless pressure is applied with a second hand.

Don't get me wrong, it is not too small or too big, but somehow its
internal taper is just wrong.  It is #2, 4" long, to fit on player
pianos with overhanging top board.

Now, when we were still in this business, we had tons of tuning hammers
around and I think a lot of them were genuine old (1950?) Hale or at
least very similar.  All I know is that our tuners did not ever use
those hammers with the little screw-on tips with special spanner and
holder.  They always used the complete tips that went straight on the
hammer handle.  I was always told that the screw-on types tend to
suddenly come loose on tight pins, etc.  That is why I purchased this
hammer and the solid one-piece tips.  Now, after finally using it,
I am disappointed to say the least.

I went to a local supplier and tested their whole drawer full of
Watanabe screw-on tips on a few pins I had with me.  They fit as
poorly as the German one I already had.  The Watanabe #3 tip fit a
little better but still not great.  I bought that (the tip, tip holder
plus wrench).  They were unable to supply a long tip (4"-5") or an
extension (which does not exist for #3 tip!) and it is way too short
to be used on a player piano.  I am currently turning up an extension
and I will see how I go from there.

Now the real question: What do you other folks do for proper fitting
tuning hammers that are also long enough for fitting onto player piano
uprights?  I know for sure that I am not the only one with this problem.

 [ I remove the top board from my Pianola before the tuner arrives
 [ so she can use a standard tuning lever.  I also remove the player
 [ top action during tuning.  -- Robbie

Also, does anyone know what the thread specifications are for the now
Hale-Schaff tips and for the heads that attach onto the handle?  I note
that this is not described anywhere.  Perhaps it is a top secret?

For the German hammer I have here, I measured the thread on the handle
to be M10 x 1 mm fine pitch metric.  This appears the same as the
Watanabe since those heads fit onto my hammers shank (although pretty
sloppy compared to the German ones).

As for the Watanabe tips themselves, I am unable to determine if it
is a metric or imperial thread.  The male part is 9.6 mm diameter with
a pitch of between 0.8 and 0.9 mm.  I am not sure about this because
when I cut this at 0.85 mm, the tip screwed on only 3/4 of the way and
then no further.  It could also be an imperial thread of around 3/8"
diameter with a pitch of 30 tpi (0.846 mm).  I am simply not able to
measure or duplicate it better.

Perhaps someone on this group knows more about all this and how I can
solve all these issues?

Best regards,
Bernt Damm
Sydney

 [ Steck pianos were manufactured in New York, London, and in Gotha,
 [ Germany, and they surely were not identical.  I suppose all three
 [ makes are found in Australia.  -- Robbie