Hornbeam

[Frank Weston]

-----Original Message-----
From: Delwin D Fandrich <pianobuilders@olynet.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Monday, June 07, 1999 3:13 PM
Subject: Re: Hornbeam


>What do you mean by 'impedance' in this context?

I was actually inserting a little "in" humour, but, in fact, the concept of
mechanical impedance comes into play with hammers and strings as it does
elsewhere in the piano.  Otherwise, why the big, heavy bass hammers and the
light, pointy treble hammers?  The bending characteristics of the shank are
certainly part of the determination of an "impedance match" between hammers
and strings.  Just don't ask me to calculate just what that optimum match
is.

>The last time I checked, Steinway still did use maple hammershanks.  At
least in
>their NY built instruments.

But if I am not mistaken, Hamburg Steinway use hornbeam in their action
components supplied by Renner.  Hmmm?

>
>Aside from S&S, and since the public has proven a willingness to pretty
much buy
>whatever is put out there, not that manufacturers really care.  Besides, in
the
>end we're all going to end up using plastic anyway.


I think not.  Instead, I see a future where digital or something like
digital instruments replace all but the top end of the piano market.  The
part of the public that will take whatever is put out there will take these,
and they actually won't be too bad as musical instruments. The top end
pianos will still be built in traditional fashion, using traditional
materials, and on average they will be a whole lot better than the average 6
footer today.  They will also cost more.   Look at what has happened with
harpsichords and other historical instuments.  Although plastic would do the
job of most of the components in a harpsichord action, the hard core,
expensive end of the market will use only wood and quill.   Price out a good
historical instrument lately?

To get back to maple vs. hornbeam.  Being curious, and having a little time
on my hands I bent a Renner hornbeam shank and measured the deflection.  I
did the same for a Steinway shank.  I repeated the test on about 10 shanks
of each manufacture.  On average the Steinway shank deflected 12.5% more
than the Renner.  I also weighed the shanks.  On average the Renner shanks
were about 13% heavier.   Can I conclude from this experiment that the
Renner are somehow superior?  No.  This experiment was totally unscientific,
and I still don't have the formula for impedance match between hammer
assembly and string.

Frank Weston