Laughead bass bridges more

[pianoman]

Back when the St. Louis convention was over my employer bought the several
Laughead pianos Gordon exhibited.  One was a 48" studio in Cherry.  I
helped sell it to one of my clients and I still tune it about once a year
and it does pretty well.  I am sure he didn't make many of this model.
On the bass bridge attachment, I always figured it was more hype than
anything and seemed to be a good source of unwanted noise.  
A little later we visited his factory and also to Charles Walter who was
just getting started with his Janssen factory.  He bought a number of the
low cost Janssens and a few of the early Walter verticals.  We also bought
some roll a round parts storage racks from him (Walter).
James Grebe
R.P.T. of the P.T.G.
 Since 1962 in St. Louis, MO
pianoman@inlink.com        

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> From: Sy Zabrocki <only4zab@imt.net>
> To: 'pianotech@ptg.org'
> Subject: RE: Laughead bass bridges
> Date: Wednesday, August 05, 1998 10:45 PM
> 
> In 1972 I ordered a Kurtzman console which was made by Laughead. It was
equipped with the vibrating knee panel you describe. A post extended from
the bridge which made contact with the bottom board when slammed shut.
Vibration from the bridge extended thru the post and caused the bottom
board to vibrate. I had forgotten about this until this topic appeared. As
I remember, I didn't notice any improvement in tone or volume.
> 
> Gordon Laughead mentions this device as the "Miracle Bridge" in the 1971
or 1972 Music Trades Directory. 
> 
> Sy Zabrocki--RPT
> Billings, MT
> ----------
> From: 	pianoman[SMTP:pianoman@inlink.com]
> Sent: 	Wednesday, August 05, 1998 5:40 PM
> To: 	pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: 	Laughead bass bridges
> 
> Hi All,
> In this months Journal Susan Kline mentions what the Laughead Company
> called knee panels.
> It brought up old memories of when I sold Laughead in the early '70's. 
> They had an option (I believe it was $75.00) that connected from the
> surface of the bass bridge to the knee panel that would cause the same to
> vibrate the same, giving some added reinforcement to the bass
frequencies. 
> Has anyone tuned or serviced one of these and what do you think about the
> added volume that it may have produced.
> 	Gorgon Laughead in 1972 or 1973" took my wife and I and the gentleman I
> was working for, out to a local restaurant during the St. Louis PTG
> convention.  It was the first time I had ever had prime rib, fantastic. 
> Gordon was a great guy and when I left the guys employment I sold a few
> Laugheads myself.  After the convention we made a trip up to his factory
> and got the grand tour.  I was sorry when it went up in smoke. 
> 	 Does anyone know if Gordon is still alive?	He had told me that his Dad
> worked for Wurlitzer and that most of the case part jigs his Dad built
> which is why the little piano looked dated even when knew.
> Thanks Susan for the memory flashback.
> James Grebe
> R.P.T. of the P.T.G.
>  Since 1962 in St. Louis, MO
> pianoman@inlink.com        
> 
>