7/8 Keyboard

[Jon Page]

S&S grands:
1916    6'4     A       1228mm
1920    6'4     A       1225
1923            L       1228

Cunningham              1218
Kran. & Bach (Aeol.)    1220

Franklin Up,            1215
Acrosonic               1218
S&S upright  c. 1866    1220


Jon Page

At 11:07 AM 07/29/1999 -0500, you wrote: 
>
> Del:
>  
> I just measured an "R" from that same manufacturer and it was 1218mm.  The
> Steinway "L" in the shop here is also 1218.  It's only the newest Steinways
> that are 1228.
>  
> dave
>  
> _______________________________
> David M. Porritt, RPT
> <mailto:dporritt@swbell.net>dporritt@swbell.net
> Meadows School of the Arts
> Southern Methodist University
> Dallas, TX 75275
> _______________________________
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
> Delwin D Fandrich
> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 10:19 AM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: 7/8 Keyboard
>
>  
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <mailto:Vince@byu.edu>Vince Mrykalo 
>> To: <mailto:caut@ptg.org>caut@ptg.org 
>> Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 7:06 AM 
>> Subject: Re: 7/8 Keyboard
>>
>> I thought "normal" size for a keyboard was 48".  BTW Ed's temperament class
>> was so persuasive, that I will again try a well temp for specialized
>> programs such as an all Chopin one.  A very well presented class, Ed!
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>>   
>> When I designed my first grand piano I did a little (to little, as it
turned
>> out) research on key headscales.  I was told by several folks within the
>> company I worked for at the time there had been an "International Standard"
>> of 1220 mm agreed to by most of the industry in the late 1940's.  So I
acted
>> accordingly and designed the keyset accordingly. 
>>   
>> On submitting the drawings to the keymakers (a division of this same
>> company) I was told that they couldn't make keys to this width.  There's
>> were something wider than that.  So much for standards.  I then did what I
>> should have done in the first place and went out and measured what they
were
>> actually making.  Since then I have measured quite a few and have found
that
>> there is really no standard at all.  Everyone pretty much makes what they
>> want to make. 
>>   
>> Personally, I would like to see key headscales just a little bit narrower
>> than what we currently see.  Over the years I have encountered quite a few
>> pianists (not all of them women) who have had difficulty reaching some of
>> the common intervals found in standard piano music.  Yes, they have, for
the
>> most part, been able to train themselves to reach what they need to reach. 
>> But not without some cost to their hands. 
>>   
>> This experience has indicated that a key headscale width of around 1190 to
>> 1200 mm might well be an improvement.  It's not enough of a change to
>> require any great adjustment, but is enough to make reaching some of the
>> wider intervals just a bit easier. 
>>   
>> Regards, 
>>   
>> Del 
>>  
>
>
>


Jon Page,  Harwich Port,  Cape Cod,  Mass.  mailto:jpage@capecod.net
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