Square Action Handle

[Farrell]

> YEP.  The first time I saw one I have never understood why grand
> actions of today do not have them.

Agreed. I have seen a few on modern grands. They work very well and you never snap C88 hammer off!

>     Another thing was the flange bushing in the split flange with
> a screw to loosen or tighten the bushing.  This was not on all
> squares I think. That seems to be a good idea but it must have
> drawbacks because it is not in use today.

Agreed. The square I have in my shop now has this feature. I don't know of any drawback (beyond perhaps cost) and it sure seems like it would be a very nice feature. I know David Stanwood played around quite a bit with this feature in the earlier days of his touchweight metrology endeavors. He discarded the idea for some reason - I don't remember - it might say on his web site or in his series of metrology articles in the Journal - I know his actions covered in the first articles had the split adjustable flange.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Moody" <remoody@midstatesd.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2003 11:59 PM
Subject: Re: Square Action Handle


> > Are you talking about the little retractable metal handle in the
> middle of the front of the keyframe?
> 
> YEP.  The first time I saw one I have never understood why grand
> actions of today do not have them.
> 
>     Another thing was the flange bushing in the split flange with
> a screw to loosen or tighten the bushing.  This was not on all
> squares I think. That seems to be a good idea but it must have
> drawbacks because it is not in use today.
>     Other than that most of the other aspects of square grands
> were useless to counter productive.  Square grands were "for
> market" items first and fore most.  Grand pianos were being made
> during the era of square grands, why where so many more squares
> sold?   People wanted a   "box" rather than a "wing" (flugal).
> They fit in with the decor more than the grand piano?  They must
> have been cheaper but I can't imagine how that could be since
> forcing a grand piano into a rectangle seems to be twice the
> effort of letting its design flow naturally from a straight hammer
> line.
>     Other details such as oblong pins, tuning pins in the back of
> the piano instead of the front, hammers that had to be shaped
> solely to pass each other thus negating the shape of the hammer on
> tone,  and last but not least markedly inferior tone doomed the
> square grand.  In pursuit of a better tone for the piano of the
> masses, the square, succumbed in 10 years (1890-1900) to the
> upright.
>     As a piece of furniture they still have not been equaled as
> far as state of the art of furniture manufacturing.  Just imagine
> the value of a square grand if it were a desk, or wardrobe
> constructed of the same exquisite carpentry,    woods and veneers.
> There is much evidence to indicate the piano industry paid the
> highest prices for woods and veneers, so thus only the very best
> was used in pianos, the desk and furniture makers got second
> ick.  ---rm
> 
> 
> 
>     ----- Original Message -----
> From: Farrell <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2003 5:11 AM
> Subject: Square Action Handle, was: Avery Todd/Re.:My Post
> 
> 
> > Are you talking about the little retractable metal handle in the
> middle of the front of the keyframe? I don't think they all had
> them. I have also seen the handle on several modern-type grands.
> Every time I see one I think to myself that I will install one on
> every action that comes through my shop! (But of course, never
> have.)
> >
> > Terry Farrell
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Richard Moody" <remoody@midstatesd.net>
> > To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2003 2:15 AM
> > Subject: Re: Avery Todd/Re.:My Post
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: Farrell <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
> > > To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 10:22 AM
> > > Subject: Re: Avery Todd/Re.:My Post
> > >
> > >
> > > > I know Joe is a tough old brute. But I am counting on his
> arms
> > > being all but useless and his back huring so much after tuning
> all
> > > those square grands - it'll be no contest!  ;-)
> > > >
> > > > Terry Farrell
> > > >
> > >
> > > AND his belt buckle pulling off an ivory or two.   Actually I
> do
> > > like the bracket that lets you pull the action out. Was this
> on
> > > every square?
> > > ---rm
> 
> 
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