<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div>I believe that they abandoned this because, by about 1900, pianos were so big and loud, and the music so rambunctious (Ragtime and such) that it could make one deef to sit there and play! ( Or at least hurt one&#39;s ears. The 1890&#39;s full-size Knabes with the plate that passes through the bottom have a bass that could compete with an S&S "B"! But facing right at you!!!) Other reasons would be that sheet music (with beautiful covers) sales blossomed in this era, so a continuous lip to hold them was preferable to the small, fold-out desk: and to help keep out the weather.<br /><br />Thumpe</div></td></tr></table>            <div id="_origMsg_">
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span>
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                            David Boyce &lt;David@piano.plus.com&gt;;                            <br>
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold:">To:</span>
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                             &lt;pianotech@ptg.org&gt;;                                                                                                     <br>
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold:">Subject:</span>
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                            Re: [pianotech] Art Case Bechstein                            <br>
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sent:</span>
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                            Wed, Oct 31, 2012 9:58:30 AM                            <br>
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    <font face="Arial">Meant to say, agree with you about this Richard.&nbsp;
      As I recall, Alistair Laurence made some pianos with fabric panels
      on the top door, back in the 1980s.<br>
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      Best regards,<br>
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      David.<br>
      <a rel="nofollow" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" target="_blank" href="http://www.davidboyce.co.uk">www.davidboyce.co.uk</a><br>
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    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 30/10/2012 18:00,
      <a rel="nofollow" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" ymailto="mailto:pianotech-request@ptg.org" target="_blank" href="javascript:return">pianotech-request@ptg.org</a> wrote:<br>
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    <blockquote
 type="cite"><font id="role_document" color="#4b6a74"
 face="Microsoft Sans Serif" size="2"> One aspect&nbsp;I do appreciate
        is the peirced top door with cloth on the&nbsp;reverse.&nbsp; Why on earth
        piano manufacturers abandoned this principle on upright pianos
        amazes me.&nbsp; Upright pianos are traditionally shoved against a
        wall, have heavy solid panels on the front and&nbsp;the tone is
        vastly&nbsp;inhibited as a result.&nbsp; I did see a new&nbsp;Steingraeber
        upright with a very modern take on this idea however.</font></blockquote>
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