Wooden action parts

[Farrell]

"....when the hammer hits the string vibrations travel through the action parts, rails, etc. to the key.  Therefore these parts need to be wood to transfer the 'proper' vibrations."

Geeezzzz, here we go again! This is all part of completing the "circle of sound". Gosh, don't you get it yet?

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phillip Ford" <fordpiano@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 4:14 PM
Subject: Wooden action parts


> A few additional words on the teflon flange and bushing thread that I decided
> to put in a separate post.  My own feeling is that any non-moving part of the
> action would be better made of stable material (not affected by temperature or
> humidity).  This rules out wood.  The parts in question:  keyframe, brackets,
> rails, and flanges.  Brackets are universally of metal now, I believe.  Rails
> often are.  Why not the keyframe and flanges?  Any reasons to make them of
> wood?  Any pianos out there with these parts non-wood?
> I had a conversation a few years ago with someone from Bechstein.  I
> mentioned this to him and he said something to the effect that when the hammer
> hits the string vibrations travel through the action parts, rails, etc. to the
> key.  Therefore these parts need to be wood to transfer the 'proper'
> vibrations.  Any thoughts on this?  I agree that it's important to feel the
> piano's vibrations in the keys as you're playing.  I had always assumed that
> this was coming through the keybed and keyframe to the key, and not back
> through the action from the hammer.  Regardless, I can't see that having metal
> in the path rather than wood would damp these vibrations.  It probably would
> damp them less.  This could result in a different feeling at the key, which
> might be better or worse.  It seems something that could be established by a
> manufacturer fairly easily.  Has any manufacturer experimented with this?
> 
> Phil F
> 
> 
> 
> Phillip Ford
> Piano Service & Restoration
> 1777 Yosemite Ave - 215
> San Francisco, CA  94124
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