Del, Thanks. I could see the sketch, but for some reason my computer wouldn't let me print it out, so it's now become a second hand sketch in my own hand. This is very interesting and somewhat similar to a couple of things I've seen in old patents. I like the idea that there is no net force on the bridge (assuming no down bearing) - no twisting as in present arrangement. Do you think the weight of these terminations would be an issue at the top end of the scale? Phil --- Phillip Ford Piano Service & Restoration 1777 Yosemite Ave - 215 San Francisco, CA 94124 On Thu, 8 Nov 2001 09:03:29 Delwin D Fandrich wrote: > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Phillip L Ford" <fordpiano@lycos.com> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org> >Sent: November 06, 2001 11:53 PM >Subject: Bridge agraffes > > >> ------------- >> Del, >> Would you care to elaborate on this a little? I haven't seen the Stuart >> piano. If the side by side performance of your device was comparable >> with notched bridges with pins I would think that the device in question >> would have some advantages over a conventional bridge string termination. >> Were there some reasons that it wasn't adopted? >> >> Phil >> --- > >Phil, > >This was/is not an agraffe. It's basically a long, flat plate with two risers, one at each end, which are string bearing points and a riser in the middle with one, two or three slots through which the strings pass. The middle riser has a slot milled/cast into it which accepts a mild steel pin. The pin is oriented in such a way that it deflects the string downward from a straight path across the two end risers. (I've pasted in part of an old drawing though I've no idea if it will come up on your screen.) > > > >The back end has a molded-in pin that indexes into a pre-drilled hole in the top of a flat bridge body. Toward the front there is a countersunk hole through which a flat-headed wood screw passes to attach and index the front of the device to the bridge. The two holes drilled straight into the bridge align the device to the string centerline. > >I do think the device has some inherent advantages over the standard bridge pin system though I didn't do enough testing to determine what the long-term performance of the thing might be. One might say this is being done now in the field on the Stuart piano. It will be interesting to see how it holds up over time. > >There was no interest in pursuing this kind of experimental work by my employer at the time. Since the company was paying for my time I let the idea drop and went on to other things. I do plan to resurrect it again one day. > >Del > Make a difference, help support the relief efforts in the U.S. http://clubs.lycos.com/live/events/september11.asp
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