windings

[Jim]

Hi again James:

Schaff used to make aluminum wrapped strings because it was discovered
that you can get better transition across the Bass - Tenor break, but
there was not much market for these and there were only 5 sizes of wrap
that were available. One of the advantages of Aluminum was that it
avoided use of the very smallest copper wraps which had adherance
difficulties. Since a commensurate weight of Aluminum was much thicker,
it adhered to the core wire better. One of the disadvantages was the
small selection of Aluminum wrap sizes. Dave Roberts who wrote the
"Calculating Technician" booklet is responsible for popularizing Aluminum.
He now lives out here in the Phoenix area.  He is a high level Physicist.
When his piano was redone recently, it was unfortunate that aluminum wraps
were no longer available.

Jim Coleman, Sr.



On Sat, 5 Apr 1997, James Grebe wrote:

> Dear list,
> 	As I remember, the fact that a material that is used for string winding
> seems to work the best has to do with the weight of the material that is
> winded (is that a word?).  The fact that copper seems to work the best
> doesn't mean that COPPER has some magical properties but only the fact that
> the weight that it loads on the speaking length may be optimal for that
> string length.  It is my opinion that Aluminum in the few notes from the
> middle before the bass break makes sense.  Usually the string length and
> string diameter causes those note to have lower tension, that by winding
> them with aluminum, tension could be increased to match more closely the
> notes as they go up from that area.
> 	Does anyone know if aluminum is harder to work with than copper in these
> small diameters of winding material.  I am surprised that more makers don't
> use this to their advantage to get closer string tension in the low middle
> section.  Since the pianos that used aluminum seem to come from Charles
> Frederick Steins' stable does anyone know if he was on the right track.  If
> so why wasn't this practice widely adapted.  Charles had some strange
> ideas, I know.  Is anyone aware of any written material about Stein stating
> his principles and philosophies in scale design.... or... did his designs
> send Story & Clark and Lowrey on their way to closure?
>
> Open for discussion and opinions.
> James Grebe from St. Louis
> pianoman@inlink.com
>