Walter pianos

[Piannaman@aol.com]

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Jim,

Thanks for taking the time to offer us this interesting bit of piano history!

Dave Stahl

In a message dated 6/14/03 11:49:34 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
pianotoo@imap2.asu.edu writes:


> 
> Hi to all:
> 
> The Walter piano was basically designed while we were at the CG 
> Conn Co. It was then called the C-48 scale. As far as I know, it 
> was the 2nd piano designed with Computer aid. Charles walter and 
> Paul Bert primarily did the computer work at South Bend, IN at the 
> computer labs of the "Fighting Irish" Univ. The data from the 
> computer printout was given to me to layout the string locations, 
> lengths and diameters. The computer program was written to give a 
> very smooth inharmonicity curve throughout the piano. Very low 
> inharmonicity was the goal for the midrange of the piano. 
> Moderate jumps in tension were allowed to accomplish this purpose.
> 
> In the engineering labs we hand built the first prototype of the C-48.
> There were 4 or 5 of us involved in the project. Charles Walter was 
> my boss (term of endearment). We made the wooden plate pattern 
> from which the plate was cast. I personally took it to 
> Springfield, OH where the plate was cast. I empirically designed 
> the Bass stringing since we did not have the sophisticated Bass 
> string formulas which are now available. Our object at that time 
> was to have Bass strings longer than any studio sized piano on the 
> market at the time (I think this is still true today). 
> 
> Within a year the CG Conn Co no longer wished to be in the piano 
> business. Charles Walter remained with the Co., working in the 
> Organ Engineering dept. I went to work for the Baldwin Piano Co.
> Much of our engineering models were just dumped in the garbage. 
> >From the garbage dump, I resurrected a Knight piano which we had 
> previously dissected, searching for clues of its great sound. My 
> sons and I reassembled this piano and kept it for our home piano. 
> I was able to save my log book and a few things from my desk.
> 
> Within a year Charles Walter bought much of the remaining piano 
> stock and many of the production tools and went into business as 
> the Charles R. Walter Piano Co. At first he primarily relied upon
> using the leftover parts for the C-42 scale (which BTW was the 
> first computer designed scale). This piano was originally a 36" 
> spinet. Since its scale was so good,he jacked up the plate and 
> made a 41" console out of it. Spinets and Consoles were very much 
> in vogue in those days (early '70s). Business was good and even 
> though many other piano manufacturers were going out of business.
> The Walter Co survived largely because of the integrity of the 
> manufacturer and the committment to excellence.
> 
> Within a year or two Charles decided to bring out the C-48 scale 
> with newly designed furniture aspects. It was a great success.
> 
> Later Charles redesigned the stringing scale to produce a more 
> gutzy sound. This meant that there was to be some sacrifice of the low
> inharmonicity in the midrange in order to get more tension. By 
> this time the inharmonicity formulas were developed so that a 
> better Bass Scaling could be accomplished and there was smoother 
> blend throughout the scale in regard to tension. The plate was 
> extended through the bottom board to allow for longer non-speaking 
> lengths which freed up the soundboard in that area.
> 
> With the demise of the Pratt Read Action Co. and the competitive
> attitude of the Pratt-Win Co. Charles finally bought the Langer
> Action Co. in England to insure the availabilty of good actions.
> 
> There are many other aspects of the success of the Charles Walter 
> Piano Co. which I must leave to others to discuss who know it more 
> intimately than I at this present time.
> 
> Jim Coleman, Sr.
> 



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