Okay, what's yer guess?

[Mark Schecter]

Could they be early Fender Rhodes?

-Mark

> ------- Original Message -------
> From: "Alan Barnard" <pianotuner at embarqmail.com>
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: 04/17/08, 09:00:20 PM
> Subject: Re: Okay, what's yer guess?
> 
> Not without posting it somewhere else, which I don't know how to do. 
> 
> I don't think it would help, really. There are no parts or details that don't show pretty plainly here. The whippen/butts (little S&M there) are 1/4" thick and smooth sided, no features except holes for the flange pins (no raised bird-eyes) and the hammer shanks (3/16" in diameter), and the "bridle straps" which pass between the W/Bs (see S&M, above) and the flanges and are glued to the curved back of said W/Bs. You can see the weird little hammer moldings and the small, oddly-shaped hammers.
> 
> Here are more little hints: The maker of these and similar instruments (many later models still around and in use) is actually quite famous and spent a great deal of time in hospitals. Tease, tease. Later models have hammers that are even less piano-like. 
> 
> I say, again, .
> 
> Alan Barnard
> Salem, MO
> 
> 
> 
> Original message
> From: "Barbara Richmond" 
> To: pianotuner at embarqmail.com, "Pianotech List" 
> Received: 4/17/2008 10:35:07 PM
> Subject: Re: Okay, what's yer guess?
> 
> 
> Could we have a bigger picture for a better look?
> 
> br
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Alan Barnard 
> To: pianotech at ptg.org 
> Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 9:53 PM
> Subject: Okay, what's yer guess?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Heads are 3/4" at their widest, 3/8" thick, round (no egg shape) at the crown. Notice the little bit of bridle strap material sticking out from the flange at the picture top? These tapes are connected to the dampers. (Yes they are, don't argue with me!) The whippen is the hammer butt and vice versa, no jacks, no escapement, one solid piece of wood. Key sticks are full-sized (well, like a spinet) conventional designed, three-rails, pins, felts, etc., but the "capstans" are just pieces of felt glued to the top rear of the key sticks. Key and hammer travel are conventional distances.
> 
> Further hints: This is a 20th century instrument, not something from Mozart's day! Not a celeste, not a dulcimer, not a Nickelodeon or anything similar, not exactly a piano, either--though it is called a piano, has a sustain pedal. Not tuned in any conventional way, either.
> 
> Fun one, eh? Anyone seen 'em? Bet Jack Wyatt knows  ...
> 
> Alan Barnard
> Salem, MO
>