One more tuning question...

[Michael Gamble]

Hello Frances and List
All the answers about 'Pitch' and the history of same are embodied in an 
excellent book - which ought to be on everyone's bookshelf. Published by 
Scarecrow Press and written and researched by Bruce Haynes it is called 
simply "A History of Performing Pitch" - or - "The Story of "A"
Get it .....
Regards
Michael G.(UK)
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "FRANCES HELMS" <fhelms@topeka.k12.ks.us>
To: <terry@farrellpiano.com>; <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 9:25 PM
Subject: Re: One more tuning question...


> My former mentor, Augie McCollum,  told me that pitch was standardized
> at A440 in 1929.  Prior to that each manufacturer had their own chosen
> pitch.  He usually knew such things and was around at that time.
> Fran Helms,
> Topeka, KS
>
>>>> "Terry" <terry@farrellpiano.com> 2/20/2005 12:01:49 PM >>>
> It seems like we have been through this before (likely many times). I
> really don't know that much about pitch history, but I seem to recall
> that 435 may have been common back in the late 19th Century, and even
> back then, A440 was certainly used - at least by some. But by the turn
> of the 20th Century, A440 was pretty standard. Definitely not the case
> that all or most pianos before 1920 were designed with 435 in mind. Or
> am I way off base here (my recollection is likely not what it used to
> be)?
>
> Terry Farrell
>
>  Pitch before 1920 was 435.  Most can take A-440 if not rusty.
>  Jim
>  James Grebe
>