<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; cha= rset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1505" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV>Hi, All,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm posting to both the pianotech and caut lists.  I'm not a = pianotech listee anymore, so would appreciate pianotech listees to&nbsp= ;respond privately.   CAUT listees may respond either on or offlis= t, use your own judgment!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am conducting research on the early Steinway grand, 1856-1883. &= nbsp;(These pianos nearly all had jointed rims, most had agraffes to the top= .)   I also give a program on the subject - the history/desig= n segment will be given in Rochester (hope you'll be there!).  The reas= on I'm posting to these lists is to seek your help with this ongoing project= .  I have already learned that my fellow technicians are= the most important resource for this project!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I list four areas below where this project could use your help.  Y= ou might suggest others.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  Documentation of early Steinways</DIV> <DIV>2.  Discovery of special or unusually important Steinways</DIV> <DIV>3.  Sound documentation of early Steinways</DIV> <DIV>4.  Collection of original parts or pianos</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>1.  Documentation of early Steinways.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am gathering data on as many important examples of early Steinwa= y grands as possible.  This includes </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>photo documentation (as many pictures of as much of the piano and its c= omponents as possible).  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>stringing scale:  at least samples of all C's, plus beginning= and ends of breaks;  prefereably entire string lengths.   Mo= st of these pianos have tilting agraffes to the top.  It's important to= get an accurate speaking length reading from the actual termination, not th= e top/front of the tilted agraffe.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Action documentation.   I use the table Pianotek sells, using=  standard Stanwood techniques which come with the table, to obtain= key ratios, wippen weights and hammer weights.  I photograph everythin= g (including the weighed parts).  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Original string scale notations are important.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any piano which appears to have original components is very important.&= nbsp; Bass strings should be partly iron wound, and tuning pins should be 2/= 0 or smaller.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I would like to do all this myself, but can't do it all.  &nb= sp; </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>2.  Discovery of special Steinways</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV>Certain early Steinways are important.  For example, according to = Roy Kehl, the incredibly knowledgable Steinway piano historian, se= ven prototypes of the "<STRONG>iron grand</STRONG>" of 1869 were built, but = he knows of no extant iron grand.   These were probably sold in th= e northeast and some may still exist.  One of you might have even seen = this piano and wondered what it was!   Finding and documenting an = iron grand would be a very important event.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any <STRONG>fully or partly original piano</STRONG> from the period is = important.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Unusual actions</STRONG> are important.  the 1860 Steinway= Patent Action, the 1871 Theodore Steinway Action, and - ANY original action= , with original parts and hammers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Centennial Grands</STRONG> (8'9", 1875-1883) are high on t= he list.  It is my hope to find one in original condition, an= d also one which has been so responsibly rebuilt that it accurately ref= lects what this incredible design should sound like. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>3.  Sound documentation of early Steinways.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV>I have begun to record early Steinways.  I hope to eventually deve= lop a recording protocol which is consistent.  Unfortunately all I can = do now is to set up my hi-fi stereo analog camcorder.  It is much bette= r than nothing, but has drawbacks - sound compression, for example.  Bu= t I've gotten important recordings, for example, an amazing-sounding 1860 fl= at strung 8'3" with the Steinway Patent Action.   I dream of findi= ng a well-rebuilt, or fine original Centennial grand to record.  And a = properly restored 8'5" or 8'6" from the early 1870s would be a good example = of what Anton Rubenstein toured with, on his famous whirlwind visit to Ameri= ca using a Steinway.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>4.  Collection of discarded original parts or pianos.&nbsp= ;   </STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV>I have observed that many rebuilders and shops modernize, modify, = and simply toss many parts.  Original action parts and components, orig= inal sostenuto components (from the sheathed, belly-mounted original rod, ha= ngers and monkey hardware, to the pedal trapwork).  Original sound= boards (if board was replaced).  Even original piano wire is useful in = ascertaining wire content.   </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Oh.....any seemingly useless piano might be useful too.&= nbsp; Some of these pianos are now junked or waiting for....something....the= ir rims or pinblocks/stretchers are so deteriorated that rebuilding is often= unfeasible.  Or rebuilding is simply so cost-prohibitive that the= piano just sits. I'm interested in these pianos too....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Again, this study is NOT a study of the modern Steinway grands, the let= ter model pianos we are familiar with.  <STRONG>ALL wing grands built b= efore 1879,</STRONG> and certain grands built until 1883 (especially 8'9" Ce= ntennials), qualify for this project.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have a page on my website you may also check out: </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.shullpiano.com/html/early_steinway_grand_research= _.html">http://www.shullpiano.com/html/early_steinway_grand_research_.html</= A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I welcome all suggestions too!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks for your help.  I can be reached at my cell, (951) 544-0121= , or by email,   <A href="mailto:bdshull@aol.com">bdshull@aol.co= m</A> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Regards,   </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.</DIV> <DIV>Shull Piano Inc</DIV> <DIV>590 E Industrial Rd 2</DIV> <DIV>San Bernardino, CA  92408</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(909) 796-4226</DIV> <DIV><A href="mailto:bdshull@aol.com">bdshull@aol.com</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>