Nipples on a bull

[Avery]

On most verticals, all it does is lift the bass dampers. A "bass 
sustain". What use it is, I have no idea!

Avery

At 05:19 PM 10/20/2006, you wrote:
>I can't remember seeing a 'dummy' middle pedal.
>I have however seen them, missing the attachments to make them 
>operate a muffler rail. So they appear to do nothing now.
>John M. Ross
>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
>jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
>----- Original Message ----- From: "pjr" <pryan2 at the-beach.net>
>To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
>Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 6:48 PM
>Subject: Nipples on a bull
>
>
>>After meticulously tuning a dilapidated upright piano in the back 
>>of a dark stage at a school, I reached down with my foot and found 
>>the sustain pedal was broken off and missing.  In order to avoid 
>>having this the best tuned piano in the landfill (and to get paid), 
>>I disconnected the middle pedal and gerryrigged it to act as the 
>>sustain pedal and all is well in the tuning world.  Which brings me 
>>to my question - does anyone know the history of why there is a 
>>useless middle pedal on inexpensive upright pianos?  Is it as the 
>>proverbial expression implies "Nipples on a bull"?(Apologies to the 
>>ladies)  How did it begin?  Is it just psychological?  Do they do 
>>this in Europe?
>>
>>Phil Ryan
>>Miami Beach
>>
>>