The recent discussion on filming the flex of hammer shanks is very interesting. Please report on any developments on this project. In the context of early pianos there is apparently a strong correlation between good tone (esp. in the treble according to Paul Poletti) and *extremely* thin shanks...thus avoiding the xylophone trebles associated with bad restorations and bad modern copies. The mechanics of the Viennese action are quite different from the modern piano...applied force is on the opposite side of the pivot, hammer is key-mounted, hammer heads very light (consequently smaller moment of inertia for hammer/shank system), smaller mech. advantage of pivot system etc. This must translate somehow into a requirement for extremely thin (unless you've seen them you cannot imagine how thin this means) shanks for good tone. There must be a similar connection to shank flex and acceleration with the modern piano. This would make an interesting comparitive study...ideal candidate for computer simulation. Anyone interested in simulation of piano actions? Stephen Birkett
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