<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> My best guess as to the reverse of the usual case orientation is to angle the strings such to maximize string length while minimizing case size and keeping a non overstrung scale. That in itself seems actually quite reasonable. <p>Why the soundboard should be turned upside down tho is probably an entirely different matter. Aside from perhaps the desire to have the hammers deflect the strings upwards against the bridge instead of away from the bridge I cant guess. The amount of bearing needed might be slightly  reduced because of this... at least if you subscribe to the idea that bearing is needed at least in part,  to help hold the strings tight against the bridge. <p>Does it sound / perform better then other configurations ??.... :) Actually it has a really nice sound considering its age and condition. I think we are going to put a low pitch tuning on it and record a few tunes on it, and if we do I can post it. <p>The awkward to tune part I am not so sure about. I will find out soon enough, but as long as there is reasonable rendering, wouldnt the upside down pinblock be just a matter of getting used to it ? <p>The action is really cute.. with the middle lever being hinged to the hammer, and the de-coupleing of the hammer and key taking place at the key itself... which exhanges roller / knuckle friction for a center pins friction. Page 176 of Hardings book shows a diagram of the thing. <p>Anyways... its all very fascinating. <p>Delwin D Fandrich wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE> <blockquote dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"> </div>  Del, and Others.. Thought you might like this new shot of the Herz piano forte. It shows what I suppose is a belly rail brace. This shot is taken from above the piano with the covering folded back.</blockquote> <div dir="ltr"> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">The question, of course, is why...? Why go to all that much trouble to build something that is structurally flawed from the beginning, awkward to tune, surely, and to service, probably, albeit interesting and beautifully crafted. At least from the pictures. I suppose if it really sounds and performs better than anything else of more conventional design....does it?</font></font></div> <font face="Comic Sans MS"><font color="#000080">Del</font></font> <div dir="ltr"></div> </blockquote> <p>-- <br>Richard Brekne <br>RPT, N.P.T.F. <br>UiB, Bergen, Norway <br><A HREF="mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no">mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no</A> <br><A HREF="http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html">http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html</A> <br>  </body> </html>