rim construction

[Newton Hunt]

Yes, spruce throughout.  Inner and outer but outer has a layer of
masonite and the outer veneer.  Then they put a lid on it that would
serve an aircraft carrier as an anchor.  I guess they have to hold
that light case down with something.

		Newton

Stephen Birkett wrote:
> 
> From: nhunt@jagat.com (Newton Hunt)
> Subject: Re: Rim Construction
> >
> > Bosendorfer assembles the rim, board, plate and front
> > structure.  The rim is routed to smooth it's form and the
> > cerf cut rim is glued on the side.  Interesting process.
> > The outer rim makes no structural contribution.  Tonally?
> > Only they know for sure, in their opinion.
> >
> In effect this is a modern version of the traditional Viennese piano
> construction. The outer case originally, say on a 1783 Stein, has a very
> strong acoustic aspect. In fact, at that time the case structure was
> specifically *under*-designed, meaning it was made just as strong as it
> needed to be, and no more. By 1840 Viennese pianos were still being made
> the same rim construction method, but, by then, the inner rim was so
> rigid that the outer case probably had little acoustic function. The
> modern boesendorfer is the direct descendant of this traditional
> construction. Even down to the spruce inner rim, isn't it? Keep in mind
> the origins of Boesendorfer, taking over brodman's shop in 1828, and
> direct continuation to the modern period.
> 
> Stephen
> 
> Stephen Birkett Fortepianos
> Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos
> 464 Winchester Drive
> Waterloo, Ontario
> Canada N2T 1K5
> tel: 519-885-2228
> mailto: birketts@wright.aps.uoguelph.ca