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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Trent said:"<FONT face="Times New =
Roman"
size=3>From an ealier post I think these are pictures of a J. Bauer =
upright that
may have been made around the 1920's. But your comments interest =
me
because I am just beginning to learn about some of the varieties of =
piano
designs that have been out there even since the later 1800's. What =
struck
me about your comments was that the design looked to you pretty normal =
for a
Chickering or Geo. Steck -- did they or other makers have ribs on the =
string
side of the soundboard (or on both sides, like the J. Bauer) and/or a =
bass
bridge raised up on, and connected only to the SB through, dowels (or in =
this
case to the apron and then the SB)? "</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Trent,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" =
size=3>My comments
were made w/tongue firmly planted in cheek.<G> As I work on
a lot of "weird" stuff, this piano falls in that category. In =
the mid
to late 19th century there was a lot of experimental stuff going
on.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" =
size=3>Although I have
never seen a Chickering or Geo. Steck with ribs on both sides of =
the S.B.,
I have seen it. Also have seen an upright with two S.B.s, two plates and =
two
sets of strings! Back to Back! Truly Weird! Strange sound as well. =
The
deep, (thick) struts were more common on many of that era. A few had the =
soundboards mounted to the Plate, which was full perimeter, etc. The =
Geo. Steck
had "pockets" cast into the plate that "housed" the pin blocks. This =
dictated
that the tuning pins had to be a specific length AND that ya darned =
well
better not "drive" the tuning pins, lest you crack the plate!~! =
Yikes! That
was a fun rebuild!<G> The tuning pin size was 2"! Since no one =
makes such
a critter, I had to employ a "high end" machine shop to cut off regular =
tuning
pins and then Degrease them, etc. You don't even want to know how much =
that
cost!<G></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" =
size=3>As for
Chickerings, I don't think any two were alike during that period. =
He sold
his prototypes, IMO. Makes for all kinds
of fun.<G></FONT> <BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool
Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>