Tuning Invention Idea

[Les Smith]

On Sat, 11 Oct 1997, Glenn wrote:

> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: Saturday, October 11, 1997 5:15 PM
> Subject: Re: Tuning Invention Idea
> 
> 
> 
> >>
> >All this talk about inventing a device to tune pianos when interfaced
> >with a computer misses the obvious answer. George Steck spent the last
> >years of his life trying to invent a piano that would stand in tune in-
> >definitely. Unfortunately, he died before coming upon the solution to
> >the problem that I have. Simply tune the piano once and then WELD the
> >pins to the plate! Those babies will surely never slip again.
> 
> I thought this was going to be another tongue in cheek but I guess Les is
> serious.  Well, I am still new at this stuff (feel free to jump all over me
> if I am wrong)  but it is my understanding that pianos go out of tune NOT
> because the pins move in the pinblock so much as the soundboard absorbs and
> expels moisture from the surrounding air, thereby throwing out the tunings
> in one fell swoop!
> 
> Glenn.


Absolutely, Glenn. That was the whole point. Whoever did the welding job
obviously didn't know that. Incidentally, the piano really does exist. It
is part of a collection owned by a past president of the local chapter
of the PTG. We assume that it had been done by some old farmer who got
tired of hearing from his tuner that his piano had a "loose pin problem"
and therefore needed either more frequent tuning or an expensive repin-
ning job. The farmer csme up with his own solution to the problem and
certainly obviated the need for a tuner ever again!

Les Smith
lessmith@buffnet.net