Bauer Grand

[Bdshull@AOL.COM]

Dan:

The 6' Bauer Grand was an interesting piano.  It had a plate with substantial 
struts and a perimeter ring. The rim and inner soundboard "rim" were hung on 
the plate.  Add the unusual ribbing (top rib "straps" and bottom ribs) and 
the perimeter plate horizontal bolts which were meant to maintain pressure on 
the soundboard, and it becomes clear that the system was designed to achieve 
Bauer's idea of soundboard crown maintainance, or at least some kind of 
impedance maintainance.  Since many of these pianos lacked the adjustable 
bolts you wonder how sure Bauer was of the idea.  But it is the same idea as 
the early Steinway double iron frame upright (1860's/70's).  Fazioli has some 
version of the idea at the belly rail, I think.

Del Fandrich had a 9' version of this piano which he rebuilt.  You might get 
him to tell you about it - he really liked it, I think.

I have a few pictures of the 6' Bauer which I rebuilt.  I could send you a 
jpg file if you would like.

The action in the Bauers I have seen was always a Wessell action, but that 
had to change after Wurlitzer took over the Bauer name (I think Wessell was 
gone by then, too).

The Journal had a piece on the Bauer grand 10 or 15 years ago.  The index 
should help find it.

Bill Shull, RPT


In a message dated 7/22/00 1:27:13 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
tunemwell@rcn.com writes:

<< Hello list,
    Another odd ball piano and a request. Anyone ever seen a Bauer Grand? I
 just looked at one and couldn't find a serial number anywhere - casting
 - soundboard - various parts etc. Can anyone help please?
    Also this piano has ribs on both sides of the board- the bridge is
 notched around them / no beams between the belly and the rim. The rim is
 very thin (about an inch) but it didn't provide the shelf. The casting
 was connected to the side of the rim (visible from below) and somehow
 provides a shelf for the board (this wasn't too clear - it was dark and
 the little dog kept chewing on me and my tool bag and the old man just
 sat at the kitchen table with a cig. smoking away.)
    Anyway this is a first for me. The piano looks well built and actually
 sounds pretty good - about 6 ft. I have no idea how stable it might be,
 but it works and could be tuned. It certainly seems to be a rare bird.
 It does have plastic keys, but I don't think they are original - It
 looks like 1920-30 but could be 40s.
 I didn't see an action make anywhere.
                Thanks for any info..
                            Dan J in Wmbg VA
  >>