[CAUT] killer half-octave, the Bell

[Daniel Gurnee]

The Bell according to S&S of the '50s and '60s is not a nose bolt, is 
not a support, but to add mass to that section of plate and the bolt is 
to be made no more than snug.  It is possible to create the same effect 
on pianos without the Bell by lying a five pound weight in that area to 
produce an effect, good or bad.  My results on my S&S O are good.

Daniel Gurnee, HSU Ret.

On Friday, May 18, 2007, at 05:35 AM, Cy Shuster wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2007 6:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] killer half-octave
>
>
>> Ron Overs wrote:
>>> Hello Don and all,
>>>
>>> I have a clue as to ". . . why this happened". After considering the 
>>> structure of these belly rails, I would be very concerned about 
>>> connecting such a tension device. In my workshop, the solution to 
>>> this soundboard-perimeter-support-stiffness problem has been to 
>>> ditch the 'bell' and fit an extra back beam in the treble.
>>
>> Absolutely, Ron. In addition to the brace, I also put one or two 5/8" 
>> steel bars through the front of the belly rail, and back into the rim 
>> for further bracing and mass loading. They're epoxied into both the 
>> belly rail, and the rim. It makes a substantial difference. In any 
>> case, the bell goes.
>>
>> Ron N
>
> The "bell" is a plate nose bolt support, right?  Any thoughts on why 
> that original design used an expensive casting rather than an extra 
> beam?  Ease of assembly?
>
> --Cy--