1918 NY SS-M question

[A440A at aol.com]

Gene  writes:

<< I have replaced one SS back action with Renner Kit on an 1887 SS-B so I 
assume the back actions are similar. I recall that there was a very small dowel 
about the size of a large tooth pick in the flange. (Was this used for flange 
or spring retention?) My assumption is that if the flange glue joint is broken 
the dowel will retain it and allow it to pivot as I have observed.

Is it possible to repair these flanges? Is it possible to drill through the 
flange into the rail and screw them into place? Is there a method to do this to 
flanges that have glue joints that have not broken without breaking them? 

Regards, >>

If the flanges have no verdegris,  why not simply reglue them with Tite-bond? 
 questionable flanges are easily popped loose with a sharp rap from a hammer 
against a wooden drift.  I would suggest that you pull the tray and reglue 
every other flange, then when dry, crack the others and reglue them.  They tend 
to have some glued on fibers left on each part and index exactly back to where 
they were originally. 
Good luck, 
 
Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html