[pianotech] another Interesting find

[Delwin D Fandrich]

The Baldwin electric piano is the only instrument I know of that had to be
tuned from the back. The Wurlitzer electric "piano" was tuned by adding
solder to a vibrating reed to make it go flat or filing some away to make it
go sharp.

The Baldwin electric piano ended up the height it was (30") because the
music teacher/ industry consultant the company hired to help them develop
the thing was a very short woman who insisted she be able to easily see over
the top of the instrument and watch her students even with all of the
switching and amplifying equipment sitting on top of her piano. The whole
system -- in my opinion -- would have been much more successful had it been
built on an existing 36" or 42" back and iron frame (or plate). At least
then it could have used a standard action. And normal people would have been
able to tune the bloody things.

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
620 South Tower Avenue
Centralia, Washington 98531 USA
del at fandrichpiano.com
ddfandrich at gmail.com
Phone  360.736.7563

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of James Grebe
Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 5:05 PM
To: Ken & Pat Gerler; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] another Interesting find

Hi Ken,
I think you were talking about the Baldwin electric pianos as they tuned
from the back, right?
Jim