Thinning hammer shanks,

[S. Brady]

On Tue, 2 Sep 1997, Stephen Birkett wrote:

> At the risk of pissing everyone off I would like to explain how hammer
> shanks were, and are still, shaped for early pianos (i.e. 1780-c1850).
> Comparing to modern shanks and construction practices may give some
> insight. These comments refer to Viennese piano actions but English and
> French shanks would have followed the same principles (originating in the
> techniques for constructing precisely dimensioned tapered harpsichord jacks
> etc). 
	Stephen, thanks for the info on early piano hammer shanks; very
enlightening, as usual. The English fortepianos from around 1800 that I've
seen have had very skinny (about 1/8") round dowel shanks which weren't
tapered at all. 

Regards,
	Steve

Steve Brady, RPT		 
University of Washington
Seattle, WA