<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>RE: Weber with 4 string unisons</TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <STYLE type=text/css>BLOCKQUOTE { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } DL { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } UL { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } OL { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } LI { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } </STYLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Please take some pictures and keep a = visual journal of the work you do on this piano. If it is truly Paderewski's = piano, what a find, and restoring it - what a story... with Wurzen felt ... </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=fordpiano@earthlink.net = href="mailto:fordpiano@earthlink.net">Phillip Ford</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> Sunday, May 09, 2004 5:51 = PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: Weber with 4 = string unisons</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Interesting.  There's another one of these on the West = Coast, as it's on its side in my shop in San Francisco, although I was told that = it had been in a church in Michigan for much of its life.  The piano is = a basket case (literally - it came to me in boxes - maybe it's a 'box = case').  I think it was already worn out, but then the church burned down, which = didn't do anything to improve the condition of the piano, needless to = say.  Funny you should mention Paderewski, as the story I was told was that = this was 'Paderewski's piano', whatever that means.  I'm not sure how you = would go about proving such a thing.  I suppose it's like having a piece = of the true cross.  I gave some credence to the story since it had four = string unisons in the top two sections, which I had assumed was unique, but = now I see is not.  Another feature of this piano - it's obviously set up = for travelling.  The frame is cut away in a particular fashion and = there are metal brackets nested in it to which the legs and lyre are attached = when the piano is on its side.  Another reason I gave at least a little = credence to the Paderewski story.  One of those rebuilding projects for = when I have some spare time (which means it will probably be inherited by = another technician).  I'd love to see this one in good shape.  I'm = sure it will be no problem ordering some new 4 string agraffes from one of the = supply houses.  Maybe some day....</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Phil Ford</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT = face=Arial>Dave.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=Arial>I took care of = one of these for years.  There were only a few made.  At one time there = was a fellow trying to find all of them in the country and it turned out = the majority were here on the West Coast.  Paderewski used them = when he was feuding with Steinway and often the program would even mention the = use of the Weber.  </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"> </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=Arial>...  I'd = love to see one in good shape.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"> </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT face=Arial>Hope this helps,</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT = face=Arial>jeannie</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"> </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite"><FONT size=-1>Jeannie Grassi, RPT<BR>Associate Editor, Piano Technicians Journal</FONT> <BLOCKQUOTE><A href="mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net"><FONT size=-1><BR></FONT></A></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial size=-1>Old Weber = fans,<BR><BR>Today I happened upon an old Weber 9 foot concert grand that was not in = the greatest shape, though in its time, it must have been REALLY = magnificent.  The strings were pretty rusted, though at pitch, and = tunable(despite having been installed more sloppily than I've ever seen). I didn't = get to tune the whole thing, just looked it over a bit.<BR><BR>The = interesting feature is the four string unisons above the treble/tenor strut. =  I wish the piano was in good shape so I could really evaluate what = musical effect this would create.  Has anyone on this list come = across one of these in decent condition?  Tuning them must be a bit of a = challenge.  The strings of each note are so close together, that they = seem quite difficult to get a mute between.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial size=-1><BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial size=-1>Just another of life's = interesting pianos.</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial size=-1><BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE><FONT face=Arial size=-1>Dave Stahl</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>