Standard Pitch 1870 to Present

[Tom Servinsky]

Terry,
According to Bob Beck, one of the few welders of broken plates in the USA,
raising pitch beyond the designated A435 could pose problems....broken
plates. However, as we all know many pianos have been brought up to standard
pitch and do well with the additional tension.
The unfortunate situation in which I had to talk to him was with a broken
plate issue on an old Sohmer grand ( 1875). Apparently Sohmer and Weber both
used extremely thin plates and were prone to breakage with any additional
tension. Thus A435 for these instruments meant A435.
He ended up welding the plate but insisted on us rescaling the piano so that
it will tolerate A440.  According to him each 1/2 size ( string size)
represented 1000lb change in tension, thus he was most concerned around the
strut areas not to exceed certain limits.
Not having any design or scaling background, I had to take his word for it.
I only bring this up because there are instances where one does have to be
aware of the effects of added tension and knowing when troubled waters lay
ahead.
Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 8:10 AM
Subject: Standard Pitch 1870 to Present


> I tuned a 1903 Everett upright yesterday. On the plate just  below the "V"
> bar at the low tenor was stamped in prominent black letters "International
> Pitch 435". This is the first time I have ever seen an indication of the
> designed pitch of a piano. I tuned it to 440 from up to a full step flat
> (little kid was to be taking lessons).
>
> I have three questions related to this pitch thing:
>
> 1) Any sweat tuning a piano designed for 435 to 440 beyond the string
> breakage potential? Basically, why not? I am asking about any piano - new
or
> old - but especially an old one, such as the Everett.
>
> 2) What has been the history of Standard International Pitch since about
> 1870 until present (the era in which most pianos we commonly see fall). I
> realize there may not be a good answer to this, as it may be unknown
and/or
> many standards existing simultaneously. I have read the stuff in the
> Journal, but it is very inconclusive in this area. What I am getting at is
> are there any GOOD guidelines for the pitch to tune specific piano types?
> For instance - should all squares be tuned to 435 - or maybe European
pianos
> before 1890 should be tuned to bla, bla - or any general guidelines. Or is
> there something about the design of the piano that might dictate its
optimal
> pitch? Or just screw it, and tune 'em where you want them to be?
>
> 3) I would like to try the new stainless steel Absolute Sound wire. They
> make two strengths - regular strength for "older pianos" and high strength
> for "modern pianos". So I have a square I am restringing. I also have a
1900
> Bechstein that I will be restringing. Is my Bechstein an older piano? Yes.
> Is it modern? Looks modern also to me. (I have talked to Absolute Sound
> folks, and I get the feeling their recommendations are just "shooting from
> the hip".) Should the selection of the string type depend on a stringing
> scale analysis (by a knowledgeable analyst - not me)? Are we getting into
> "low tension scales" and "high tension scales" with this? Are these two
> general classifications where these two types of strings would be used?
What
> is a "low" and "high" tensions scale? A low scale on the same piano would
> have lower tension and less mass for any given string? In general, why
would
> a designer choose a low or high tension scale?
>
> Am I asking too many questions? I suspect someone will simply provide me
> with a reference. That would be OK. But I suspect some of the above
> questions will not be answered in a book. Hoping for both I guess. Thanks
to
> anyone.
>
> Terry Farrell
>
>