>Allen, > >I read in "Men, Women & Pianos" that Boisselot & Sons of Marseille >exhibited an instrument at the 1844 Paris exposition that had such a >foot-operated contrivance. I don't know about any patents, though, so I >guess Steinway gets the credit. > >Tom Cole > >Allen Wright wrote: >> >>Isaac, >> >>By way of trivial pursuit: >> >>I gave a chapter technical on the sostenuto pedal a few years back and in my >>research came up with the fact that Claude Montal invented the sostenuto >>pedal in 1864 in Paris, which was then improved upon and patented by >>Steinway in this country in 1875. >> >>I can't remember where I found that tidbit - it may have been the Rosamund >>Harding book. I also can't believe that stayed in my memory, when 98% of >>everything else is gone (!)...I think it's something about his name, and the >>fact that a blind man invented the sostenuto. It seems appropriate, somehow. >> >>I'd like to know more about this blind inventor and piano builder. >> >>Best regards, >> >>Allen Wright >>Cincinnati, Ohio Funny how Steinway seems to get the credit for most things piano. I don't know about the French examples, but as far as American patents: Patent 33180 by W Bigelow on September 3, 1861 is for a primitive form of sostenuto for a reed organ. 'A system of hooks controlled by a pedal for the purpose of keeping the keys depressed and prolonging the tones of the reeds for as long a time as desired after the removal of the fingers of the player from the keys'. Patent 153,766 by M Hanchett on August 4, 1874. 'My invention relates to a mechanical attachment, suited to all kinds, styles, and patterns of piano-fortes, whereby it is designed to enable a performer to sustain or permit the continuance of sound of a single one, two, or more strings or unisons after a key or keys by which the vibrations were produced have returned to their place of rest'. 'I propose to call my improvement a "Sostenuto Pedal".' Patent 156,388 by A Steinway on October 27, 1874 is for a sostenuto mechanism which differs slightly in form from that of M Hanchett. Phil Ford Phillip Ford Piano Service and Restoration San Francisco, CA
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