Odd Specimen

[Tom Dickson]

Greetings, List,
  I went to look at a "piano" ( some of you will call it a PSO ), today.  
The owners are wondering about its origins.  Perhaps someone out there can 
help.  Here's a description:

  - The case is fairly ornate, with a carved latice work on the front board 
and this is backed with cloth.  The overall dimensions are a 47 3/4 inch 
length and height.  The keyboard contains 64 keys, and the key buttons are 
curved pieces glued on;  the keys look carved to some extent.  The "capstan" 
device is a screw, with a flap of felt over top.

  - The back is rather strange, as no back posts are visible.  There appears 
to be a wooden frame with a cross member running horizontally at the 
midpoint;  again, there is cloth inside this frame.

  - There is a soundboard, however, it too is in a frame the edges of which 
are about 5 inches inside the edge of the sides of the case.

  - The plate is a 3/4 type with the tuning pins in a wooden panel.  There 
are struts between D30/D#31,E44/F45, F#58/G59,with wound bass starting at 
D30.

  - All the tenor and treble notes are formed by 2-string unisons.

  - There is only one pedal, and it is for sustain.  The action frame is all 
wood, and is held in place with small wooden pieces which turn and tighten 
in a wooden slot - much like the way some front boards of old uprights are 
held in place.  A double flange is used in the action, with the hammer on 
one side, and the damper lever held on the other pin by a brass plate and 
screw.

  - There is no exterior decal (although the piano appears to have been 
refinished), and an inspection showed no manufacturer markings anywhere.  
There is a production number (17171) stenciled on the plate.

    All in all, a rather strange piece of machinery ( in my experience ).  
Two other items:  the piano was owned by this family's parents in Colorado, 
and there is a tuner signature inside the piano that appears to be S.G. 
Suisa, dated May 7/14.

    It's one of those "family curiosity" situations, so anyone who has any 
thoughts on the piano's origin is encouraged to respond.

                                               Sincerely,
                                              Tom Dickson





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