Sarah, European pianos had 2 pedals as a rule until late after the 2nd World War. That "improvised thingy" is a pretty decent music desk, and it isn't improvised at all, but meant to be folded up and inside the piano when not in use. This piano has an antiquated design - straight strung, overdamper action, that music desk etc. This design was fashionable in Europe in mid 19th century and even earlier. Why they carried it over into the 20th century, I can't really say. Maybe the action was easier to produce or people were just used to it. I have a Pleyel upright with the same type of action, music desk, oblique stringing and 2 pedals (the left being a true una-corda) wich is from... 1860 ;-) Calin Tantareanu ---------------------------------------------------- e-mail: calin.tantareanu@gmx.net http://calintantareanu.tripod.com ---------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sarah Fox" <sarah@graphic-fusion.com> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 2:52 PM Subject: Re: Flat-strung upright
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