[pianotech] Toy piano scaling

[Ryan Sowers]

The problem is that Schoenhut outsourced the building of their toy pianos
and the quality took a nose dive. The tunings were even more erratic and the
tone of the tines less musical. Maybe they've gotten better lately - I
haven't played one in a year or so.

The fellow that put on the toy piano recital here had about 20 of these
things in his apartment. It was striking how much better some of them
sounded than others. The old Jaymars seem pretty good.

For many children this is their first experience with a piano like object.
It's too bad that they aren't more musical. I've often thought it would be
interesting to try and build some decent quality ones. It would have to be a
labor of love since it would be tough to make any money at it.

On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 10:55 PM, James Johnson <jhjpiano at sbcglobal.net>wrote:

> Years ago we had a customer who owned the toy piano he had as a child.  He
> wanted it refinished and the insides rebuilt.  We pointed out that he could
> just buy a new one for a fraction of the cost, but he wanted his original
> piano.  The solution-We bought a new Jaymar piano at ToysRUS, took the
> insides out and installed them in his old refinished case.  It was a lot
> less work than trying to mess with the old mechanism and he was thrilled and
> more than willing to pay for the service.  I don't know if they are still
> being made, but that it always an consideration if your customer wants to
> keep their old case and you have lots of broken tines.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Doremus" <
> algiers_piano at bellsouth.net>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 1:43 PM
> Subject: [pianotech] Toy piano scaling
>
>
>  This is off the wall and off topic but I thought I'd throw it out to the
>> mathematical among us....
>>
>> I have toy piano for a long time customer who wants it to work for her
>> granddaughter, several of the tines are broken. I have a friend who is a
>> metal worker so making new ones is possible, the question is how to
>> calculate the proper length without simple trial and error. Is there a
>> formula or two for calculating the pitch of a steel rod? Any advice?
>>
>> --Dave
>>
>>  New Orleans
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>


-- 
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net
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