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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi David et al.,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes, I'm the one with the 9' 1933 =
Wissner. I
regret to report that I haven't had much time to work on it, as I've =
been
preoccupied with dozens of other (not so) little duties over the past =
few
months.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I don't have much to say about my =
instrument, other
than what I've already said - in the archives. It's a very nicely
constructed instrument -- very substantial. It is more =
or less
the clone of an S&S D, with some variation in stringing. It =
was
tropicalized, as apparently were all Wissners (per the description =
in a
1916 Wissner catalog I have). Mine has a very nice sound to it, =
even
considering the fact that it needs so much work. I very much look =
forward
to getting started on it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I did a bit of research on the Wissner =
before
buying it and didn't find a negative word about the maker. The =
consensus
seems to be that Wissner copied S&S design (which he did), but =
turned out a
much better instrument. Otto Wissner apparently manufactured =
pianos in
Germany before immigrating to the US to study piano manufacture on =
"piano row,"
including under Steinway. Then with Steinway's blessings, he left =
S&S
to open his own factory down the road. I am told there =
was initially
a rather collaborative relationship between Wissner and Steinway, with =
the two
of them manufacturing some parts for each =
other. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Otto Wissner was rather arrogant about =
his craft,
in an oddly charming sort of way, and was a one-man show. I suspect =
these
qualities made him both an excellent piano builder and a horrible
businessman. In the later years of his business, I *think* I =
recall his
being sued by one of the Steinway sons for patent infringement. =
His
business didn't last for very long. He apparently would not be =
bought out,
absorbed, or whatever (e.g. American Piano), and so he became =
uncompetitive and
faded from view. That's about all I know about the man and =
his
company, and I hasten to add that it's based on a lot of "I think I =
heard"
information from others. If anybody else knows any Wissner =
history, I
would very much apprecite hearing it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sarah Fox,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Columbus, OH</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>PS I haven't forgotten about the =
sustain time
software I told you all I would write for you. I just have to sort =
through
a couple of other more urgent programming matters first. =
Since I last
communicated, I've had a couple of ideas for improving the sustain =
measurement
further. I think you'll like the end product. =
:-)</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davidlovepianos@earthlink.net
href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">David Love</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 15, 2003 =
12:55
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Wissner grands</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<P><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>
<DIV>Encountered an old Wissner grand (7') the other day. It =
seemed to
be a very well made piano with great potential(though in need of a =
variety of
things, not least of which is a soundboard). It appears to mimic =
the
Mason and Hamlin design somewhat. Anybody know anything about =
these
pianos.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>David Love</DIV>
<DIV><A
=
href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">davidlovepianos@earthlink.n=
et</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT>
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