Tropicalized Piano

John Musselwhite john@musselwhite.com
Tue, 15 Oct 2002 12:52:31 -0600


Hi Folks...

I've uploaded some pictures of a tropicalized Brinsmeade piano that it was 
my pleasure to tune last year to my "pub" site listed below. The photos 
were taken with a snapshot camera so they aren't very good but they may be 
interesting to some people anyway.

This piano has a screw-type tuning system similar to the M&H 
Screw-stringer, but the system is much more efficient and seems easier to 
tune. The string is a friction-fit into the screw which eliminates having 
to tie it there. The plain wire is all plated with a gold colour that still 
exists on this old overdamper instrument and the original tuning wrench and 
two spare screws were still in their holders.

Each piece of felt or leather that is glued in place also has either tiny 
holes drilled into the wood with a neat knot of strong thread holding them 
in place, or a tiny round-head brass nail such as in the case of the catch 
leathers and the keytops.  The ribs are all attached with glue and a brass 
screw through the front of the soundboard.

The instrument is in beautiful almost-original condition and shows very 
little signs of wear or even age for that matter, although the keytops and 
new hammers are evidence that the instrument has been played over the 
years. It has a lovely even tone with a tight bass and good tenor break and 
played very well considering it hadn't yet had a final regulation. The 
damping is a little bit "wet" for modern tastes, but not unpleasant at all.

The pictures can be found at:

http://www.musselwhite.com/pub/piano/brinsmeade1.jpg
http://www.musselwhite.com/pub/piano/brinsmeade2.jpg
http://www.musselwhite.com/pub/piano/brinsmeade3.jpg
http://www.musselwhite.com/pub/piano/brinsmeade4.jpg
http://www.musselwhite.com/pub/piano/brinsmeade5.jpg
http://www.musselwhite.com/pub/piano/brinsmeade6.jpg

More piano-related pictures can be found in the "pub/piano" directory or in 
the pub/pianotech directory.

		John




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