[pianotech] What do you call this kind of action?

[Alan Forsyth]

The simplex name was used as an adjective in describing these types of actions, as against "complex" actions; it did not refer to a specific maker. The trouble with calling it a spring & loop is that there are so many kinds of actions with different configurations of springs and loops.

AF

(Spring is not here yet..... so why do we change to summer time in the middle of winter?)
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Boyce 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 8:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] What do you call this kind of action?


  Hi Alan,

  No, I wasn't thinking of the Simplex pneumatic action. What I had in mind was Barrie Heaton's comment on the UK Piano Page ( http://www.uk-piano.org/herrburgerbrooks/index.html ):


  "In 1885 spring and loop actions in grands, sometimes incorrectly known as simplex actions, were being made by Herrburger Brooks. This action is a single escapement action".

  I don't know why Barrie says it is "incorrectly" known as the simplex action.  Maybe because of the possible confusion with the pneumatic action!  Or was there another Grand action, that was CORRECTLY called the simplex? Or was it just that no maker of them ever  called them "simplex", but called them D-Type Spring and Loop?

  The feeling of "something missing! that I was referring to, was the double escapement, the roller, and the repetition lever!.  It may be, too, that these pianos don't feel as good, because being cheap, not much attention was given to key leading etc.  But I do think it's more likely to be the action. Don't you?

  Brian Capleton has a black and white photo of a D-Type Spring & Loop action on p17 of his action  regulation book, and a short chapter on regulating it, from p95. there, he says "this action is as much capable of sensitive  repetition as the roller action, when it is well-regulated". Hmmm....

  Herbert Shead's The Anatomy Of The Piano, on p50 has a diagram of a D-Type Spring & Loop action and says "A modern non-repetition action fitten to many small pianos"  One wonders how a  "non-repetition action" could possibly be "as much capable of sensitive repetition".

  George W. Booth in his  book "Pianos, Piano-Tuners and their Problems" (Janus Publishing Company, London, 1996) devotes Chapter 3 to " 'D'-type Spring and Loop Grand Piano Actions". He notes that "these actions were made in their thousands over a great  many years and fitted by many well-known makers into their instruments to provide a range of prices............ The actions have built-in problems, caused by cheap design and poor quality materials".  He then goes on to discuss some of the problems and has several photos, in the chapter of eight and a half pages.

  Hope this is helpful, folks!

  Best regards,

  David Boyce.





  "I think the Simplex action was something else.  I can't remember where I
  have read this, and will need to look it up."

  Perhaps you are thinking of the Simplex pneumatic action for player pianos?

  "But every one I've played, feels as if there is something missing -and, of course, there is!"

  Usually the missing element is the una corda; these actions normally have a half blow system.

  AF
  (from Glasgow... once a week)
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