Bleuthner, history of piano tuners/technicians

[Fred W. Tremper]

      >
> I've been asked to consider restringing and doing some action work (hammer
> and hammershank/flange replacement) on a 1903 Bleuthner (#64301).  The
> instrument has a rather anemic sound throughout the trichord section which
> may be caused by insufficient downbearing and/or what I believe is a low
> tension string scale (the lowest tenor string is #19 and highest soprano
> is #13.5).  There's also the possibility that the strike point isn't
> correct--the hammers were replaced but the shanks appear to have been
> recycled.
>
> Anyone have any specs/insights that might be helpful in deciding whether
> or not to tackle this one?  The Renner catalog has what appears to be the
> correct replacemenet shank but I don't see any of the "wippen" or
> underlever parts in that catalog.  Does Bleuthner even exist in its
> original incarnation?
>
> Tied strings!  YIKES!  Anyone have a jig that'll make that work less
> taxing on the fingers?
>
> Also, I wonder if there are any scholarly (or even attempts at it)
> publications on the history of the piano tuner/technician--as in the
> human being, not the machine.  Seems like I saw something approaching
> scholarship in the Journal once upon a time.  I've been asked so many
> times about the subject that I guess it's time I broke down and did some
> studying!  All leads to that material will be appreciated.  (My own
> search in our library didn't turn up much of anything.)
>
> Thanks for the help!
>
> Ron Torrella
> University of Illinois
>
Ron:
For a history of anything pertaining to music history, piano manufacture, tun-
ing history, historical figures in music theory, you name it, contact Jack
Greenfield of the Chicago chapter.  His is listed in our directory.

      As an example, Jack wrote a series of articles in the "Wippenpost,"
the newsletter of the Chicago chapter, called "A History of Midwestern Piano
Manufacture," that went on for a about three years.  Terribly interesting.  I
am now reprinting this series in "Bluegrass News," my chapter's newsletter.
As a member of the publications committee, I recommended that it be published
by the PTG.  Also, he has written tons of stuff for the Journal on a variety
of subjects.  He is a jewel in PTG's crown.

      The article you referred to, which concerns the history of piano
tuners, might be an article by Virgil Smith, also of the Chicago chapter.  He
wrote of his fifty years experience as a tuner and in it he discusses the
history of piano tuning.

      Hope this helps.


Fred T.