Bird-Cage pianos answer

[Brian Lawson]

Its pupose was be the action of its day, that was where the design of piano
actions was at and thankfully it was developed into the underdamper.  I tune
two Gors & Kallmann uprights from early 1900's one with an overdamper action
one with unerdamper, same model and a couple of years separate them.

So I guess, what was the piano industry of its day to do with thousands of
overdamper actions, break them up. Probably keep on making pianos like that
until they were used.

Of note, though I don't have data to hand I'm sure some Broadwood uprights
are of an older age with underdamper action.

Brian - of British origin (overdamperland)





----- Original Message -----
From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2001 5:29 AM
Subject: Bird-Cage pianos answer


> So far no one has give me a purpose for the over-damper system! Our friend
> in England is partially correct, is some of his assumptions, but mostly
> incorrect about most things. Being in England, he should have more
> information than most, but doesn't appear to.
> Bird-cage pianos were made up into the 1930's! So his 20's is not
> correct.Germans made Over Strung Over Damper pianos for the most part and
> they are not any more difficult to regulate than any other overdamper
> system. His comment about the overdamper being less efficient is a step in
> the right direction of What The Purpose of The Design Was.
> As I said in my last post, I will bend your ear, (actually eyes), at a
later
> date, with a very lengthy post on B-Cages. Until then, it would be nice if
> you all would venture guesses as to the purpose of the overdamper system
> was. <G>
> Regards,
> Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)
>