Begin forwarded message: > From: "Joel Rappaport" <JRPiano@austin.rr.com> > Date: Wed May 21, 2003 4:46:55 PM US/Eastern > To: <draine@attbi.com> > Subject: Bechstein Soundboard replacement > > Patrick, > Here is some additional info I hope you find useful (try saying > "Tropenfluegelausfuehrung" fast three times). I tried to post it to > the > List, but since I just lurk there, it would not take it. Feel free to > cut > the paragraphs below and post if you think it might add to the > discussion. > ----Joel > > Hi, Group! > Actually, my recollection from working in the factory in the 70's is > that > all Bechsteins had screws through the board into the ribs near the > ends. > They are rather short screws and didn't effect the board or the ribs > that > much. There were no soundboard buttons placed on top of the board. > Put it > down to "tradition" why this practice has continued through the > decades. > > What Patrick is referring to is an option offered by many piano > manufacturers called the "Tropenfluegelausfuehrung." All that means > is a > tropical grand piano treatment. Features were, in addition to screws > through the board into the ribs, brass tacks holding on the key > bushings, > brass tacks through the top of the hammer shank into the knuckle core > wood, > the use of special coated piano wire, use of special moisture resistant > glues throughout the case and a bunch of other things to combat the > effect > of excessive moisture on a piano. > IMHO, adding a few screws to duplicate the original would be a nice > touch on > a Bechstein. > Joel Rappaport > Round Rock, Texas > >
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