Soundboard Thoughts

Barrie Heaton Piano@forte.airtime.co.uk
Wed, 10 Dec 1997 18:27:22 +0000


Horace,

I got in to this because of  my interest in piano history,  At first I
just look up some dates for patents from some hand outs I was given,
they did not seem to be right.  I just got a list of dates this did not
tell me much so I order a set of patens for Brinsmead . I was amazed, I
thought that one patent number for one patent. Not  so, apparently the
cost of bring out a patent was so great in England, they put lots of
patents out on one patent number and of course the drawings.


Take paten number 8643 by Pierre Erard 1840 there are 12 plates in this
one alone, (or 12 patents) it manly concerns the action, there is also
patens for fixing bracing bars.   On plate nine,  is the patent for the
"BAT pin" or the oval pin on the key bed plus key bushings.  Now some
Tec's have been taught that the bat pin is that shape because of the
side pressure and should not be turned to take out side play, however
this is what Erard design it for. Of course if the bushings are worn
then they should be changed


Barrie,

In article <3.0.3.32.19971209165635.00ae1100@popserver4.stanford.edu>,
Horace Greeley <hgreeley@leland.Stanford.EDU> writes
>
>Barrie,
>
>This is important stuff for any kind of
>substantive primary research.  Is anyone
>helping you, or, do I correctly suspect that
>this is the Barrie Heaton Project for the
>Preservation of a Whole Bunch of Important 
>Stuff?
>
>(I promise not to breath a word...)
>
>Best.
>
>Horace
>
>
>
>At 11:54 PM 12/9/97 +0000, you wrote:
>>
>>None on pianos untill I put it up, I got all mine from the UK patent
>>office. so far £120 worth,  Shhh do not tell the wife.
>>
>>
>>
>>Barrie,
>>
>>
>>In article <3.0.3.32.19971209153434.00ac8e70@popserver4.stanford.edu>,
>>Horace Greeley <hgreeley@leland.Stanford.EDU> writes
>>>
>>>
>>>Barrie,
>>>
>>>How much of that patent information is on line now?
>>>
>>>Several years ago (8 or so) there was very little, and it 
>>>was mostly just mainframe stuff.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>Horace
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>At 10:24 PM 12/9/97 +0000, you wrote:
>>>>why not use agraf on the sound board bridge, so you could use a narrower
>>>>bridge, ERARD did a lot of work on this,  an so did Broadwood, I have
>>>>worked on a Broadwood with  a type of agraf, however the bridge was just
>>>>as thick as a conventional bridge.
>>>>
>>>>At the moment I am working my way though ERARDs patents for my next
>>>>project some fascinating drawings on bridges.
>>>>
>>>>Barrie,
>>>>
>>>>In article <199712091931.NAA16669@onyx.southwind.net>, Ron Nossaman
>>>><nossaman@SOUTHWIND.NET> writes
>>>>>Hi Newton,
>>>>>
>>>>>It would split twice as fast? If it were taller than it was wide, would it
>>>>>"break off" with a major pitch raise? How about "flagpoling bridge
>>>syndrome"?  
>>>>>
>>>>>The splitting part brings me to something I wanted to ask anyway. Is
>there a
>>>>>reasonable body of empirical evidence that horizontally laminated bridges
>>>>>are evil, or is it just that since they are found on evil pianos, it's
>>>>>assumed? Have horizontally laminated bridges been actually installed in
>>>>>decent pianos and tested? 
>>>>>
>>>>>Ever a "lert" and in anticipation, Ron
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>At 12:21 PM 12/9/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>>>>>Why ARE bridges so wide?  What, if anything, would happen if a bridge
>>>>>>were half its current width?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>      Newton
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> Ron Nossaman
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>
>>>>Barrie Heaton                                  |  Be Environmentally
>Friendly
>>>>URL: http://www.airtime.co.uk/forte/piano.htm  |  To Your Neighbour
>>>>The UK PIano Page                              |  
>>>>pgp  key on request                            |  HAVE YOUR PIANO TUNED
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>Horace Greeley
>>>
>>>Systems Analyst/Engineer
>>>Controller's Office
>>>Stanford University
>>>
>>>email: hgreeley@leland.stanford.edu
>>>voice mail: 650.725.9062
>>>fax: 650.725.8014
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>
>>Barrie Heaton                                  |  Be Environmentally Friendly
>>URL: http://www.airtime.co.uk/forte/piano.htm  |  To Your Neighbour
>>The UK PIano Page                              |  
>>pgp  key on request                            |  HAVE YOUR PIANO TUNED
>>
>>
>>
>Horace Greeley
>
>Systems Analyst/Engineer
>Controller's Office
>Stanford University
>
>email: hgreeley@leland.stanford.edu
>voice mail: 650.725.9062
>fax: 650.725.8014
>





--

Barrie Heaton                                  |  Be Environmentally Friendly
URL: http://www.airtime.co.uk/forte/piano.htm  |  To Your Neighbour
The UK PIano Page                              |  
pgp  key on request                            |  HAVE YOUR PIANO TUNED



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