Le demi-queue Paulello

[Phillip Ford]

While searching for info on Paulello wire I came across this, which I thought might be of interest:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jocelyn.saviard/Paulello/Demi%20queue%20Paulello.htm

Perhaps our french colleagues can tell us how to translate demi-queue.  A literal translation would be half-grand, which seems rather an unflattering name for what appears to be a rather large grand piano.  Perhaps it's what we would call a semi-concert grand.  Isaac Oleg posted a few of these pictures a little while ago, but this page contains a few more pictures.

My attempt at a translation of the page follows:

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THE BIRTH OF STEPHEN PAULELLO’S LATEST ‘BABY’

Impressive.  That’s the word that immediately comes to mind on receiving some photos of the progress of the work on the half-grand.  This French half-grand, the first in a long time, n’est pas une parole en l’air (sorry, don’t know how to translate that – PF), is being born little by little.  Some photos enthusiastically sent by Stephen Paulello showing:

(Photo captions)

The raw foundry casting
the ‘monobloc’ frame (I’m assuming ‘barrage’ is what we would call frame)
the gluing of the outer rim ('ceinture' means belt – I’m assuming this is what we would
               call outer rim)
the positioning of the plate
the varnished board
the assembled case

And it continues to progress.  Don’t hesitate to return to this page, this piano is coming to life, its completion is imminent, and it will contain revolutionary new things concerning the fastening of the strings.  Given what I know of its concert big brother, it should have a magnificent tone.  I won’t fail to keep you informed of its arrival.
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I don't know what he means by revolutionary new things concerning the fastening of the strings - perhaps these are the adjustable height plate aliquots that we've seen pictures of before.  Or perhaps it's something else.

The monobloc frame is interesting.  I can't tell from the photo how it's constructed.  From solid pieces?  Laminated construction?  Cut out from a solid laminated panel?

I wonder what kind of wire he's planning to use on this piano?

Phil Ford



Phillip Ford
Piano Service and Restoration
San Francisco, CA