[CAUT] ET vs UET

[Laurence Libin]

Bootman's is a neat device. Have you tried using it to tune a piano, and 
have you gotten true ET? What is the range of the monochord, an octave or 
more? The question whether or not it works is the critical one for me, not 
Bootman's intention. Also, I'd stress his remark, "All tuners try to obtain 
an equal temperament, but only a few . . . succeed." Right.
Laurence

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>
To: <caut at ptg.org>; <ed440 at mindspring.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 4:05 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] ET vs UET


> Explain a little further.   A monochord with the ET divisions marked 
> below.   You touched a spot on the string to produce a tone in ET...in 
> theory
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
>
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: "Ed  Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com>
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Received: 4/20/2010 12:52:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] ET vs UET
>
>
>>Laurence-
>
>>You may recall our correspondence about Bootman's Piano-Forte Tuning 
>>Scale, a
>>monochord sold in New York in the 1860's. It is scaled in ET, as is Roller 
>>and
>>Blanchet's device (Paris, 1820's). Whether or not these gadgets worked, 
>>they are
>>scaled in ET, not some other temperament. They speak unambiguously of 
>>their
>>makers' intentions.
>
>>My copy of Bootman's advertising flier states "....All tuners try to 
>>obtain an equal
>>temperament, but only a few, who have constant practice and a perfect ear
>>succeed, while with this scale all can obtain it more perfectly than can 
>>be done by
>>the ear alone...." It is endorsed by William Mason, Gottschalk and 
>>Steinway and
>>Sons. Steinway calls it "the best of its kind," so one wonders what other 
>>tuning
>>devices were available in the mid-19th century.
>
>>They are listed as sold by eight music merchants in New York, Buffalo and 
>>Chicago.
>
>>I have two of these devices, one in working condition, both purchased on 
>>eBay in
>>recent years, so I don't suppose they were rarities.
>
>>Ed Sutton