[CAUT] steinway with two keyboards

[Mark Ultsch]

The top manual only plays an octave above.  The down weight of the 
lower manual when coupled to the octave above is moderated a bit by 
what I would call "coupler lever assist springs" (similar to wippen 
assist springs).  Although, as Fred says, the down weight was 
extremely high before the reconditioning, that was due in part to many 
of these springs being broken or too weak.

And yes, Baoli Liu, Head Piano Tech, and I are quite glad Steinway (or 
anyone else for that matter) was willing to work on it.

Mark Ultsch
UW--Madison Piano Shop


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 9:47 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] steinway with two keyboards


>
>> Well, this is a real Rube Goldberg version. And the touch was 
>> heavier than anything I’ve ever seen. I saw it April, 2006, and was 
>> glad someone else was working on it. But, yes, similar in many ways 
>> to some tracker organs I’ve seen, so probably like reed organ as 
>> well (I haven’t seen one with a coupler).
>
> In a reed organ, the coupler not quite doubles the down weight, 
> since the second pallet valve spring resistance and coupler friction 
> is at a significant mechanical leverage advantage on the coupled 
> note. You wouldn't get that luxury with a piano action, since the 
> key dip to hammer blow ratio is less forgiving, assuming the top key 
> row plays two notes an octave apart. Does it work that way, or does 
> the top manual just play the octave above?
>
> Ron N
>