Lovely Birdcage, (Over Damper!)

[Geoff Sykes]

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Jurgen and Joe --
=20
It's responses like these that make this listserver so worthwhile. With =
only
three years experience behind me I am amazed at how much I've learned
already. But every time something like this comes along I am reminded =
that
no matter how much I learn about piano technology I am likely never =
going to
run out of interesting things to learn more about.=20
=20
Thanks to all for the encouraging and informative responses. This is =
going
to be an interesting project.
=20
-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles
=20
=20

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf
Of Jurgen Goering
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 3:18 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: Lovely Birdcage, (Over Damper!)


With respect, I would offer a different opinion than Joe Garrett on a =
few
points:
Based on the many German pianos I have seen during my years working =
there, I
can say that while the heyday of German overdampers was earlier, many =
were
still made after the turn of the 20th century. There are some astounding
overstrung overdampers made by Ibach and others, but especially =
Bl=FCthner,
that blow the socks off of just about any contemporary upright you would
compare them to, in terms of scaling, tone, touch, and yes, even =
damping.=20

The case is definitely a perfectly typical example of German styling ca.
1900. I have a R=F6nisch with almost the exact piano case (though not an
overdamper) in my shop. German piano of the pre-WW1 era came in =
essentially
two stylings: black or walnut, with frames on the panels and decorative
matching veneer. There were also a smaller number of mahogany pianos =
made,
mainly for export to England. Almost always, the finish was french =
polish,
which gave real depth and glow to the wood grain. The Germans liked to =
show
off the fancy wood, while North American pianos of the day were most =
often
covered with thick coats of colored varish, which obscured the grain and
eventually turned into alligator skin. Pity.

I agree with Joe on the pitch - take the precautions needed, and raise =
it.
Jurgen Goering
Piano Forte Supply
(250) 754-2440
info@pianofortesupply.com
http://www.pianofortesupply.com


On Jan 8, 2006, at 2:26 PM, Joe Garrett wrote:=20


Having seen the pictures, My gut reaction is: there is nothing New in =
that
piano, although it is unusual in that it says 1900 on it.
The Germans, for the most part, only made Over Damper pianos from about =
1870
to 1880. Then they gave it up for lack of a market. I have seen several =
like
this, but were from the aforementioned date(s). The case style is =
definately
NOT of the 1900 period of German piano making, so I'd say it was a
"specially made" one. The Atlas says little other than to infer that it =
was
a "custom" shop. So that would make more sense as to it's period of
manufacture.
As to the pitch to tune it at?......Since the German piano wire was =
light
years ahead of anyone else, it is/would be safe to tune it at 440cps.
However, if you want to be ultra safe, I'd say that the International =
Pitch
of A=3D435cps is the way to go. The overall =
structure/construction/workmanship
of German uprights is quite rugged compared to the English counterparts.
Look at the plate. It is massive compared to English types!
As for the CA glue? Yes!
=20
=20
Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I
=20
=20


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