List, I serviced a 1912 Erard grand piano today, and have a few questions for you who have more experience with pianos of this variety than I. First question: Was this piano designed/scaled to be tuned to 440? The piano is straight strung, and has a plate and hefty structure. It is currently at a quarter step low, and was rebuilt in Paris in the early 80's. So the strings and pins are fairly new, but the pins are not as tight as I would expect - a couple in the low bass actually won't hold pitch. Would this piano have originally had quite small tuning pins? It does not look like the pin block was replaced although the current pins seem to be 2/0 - my Hale #3 tip (which I use on most pianos) has a quite sloppy fit, and the #2 tip (which I usually use on Shimmel's, etc.) is just right. Maybe the rebuilder just restrung with same size pins?? There are two cracks in the soundboard which were previously shimmed - the poor thing went from Paris to Oklahoma to Houston to dry Montana - in a room with a gas unit cranking out dry heat, aargh. I recommended they buy a humidifier. Second question: Although they didn't ask, would there be any special value/interest in this piano? The action has a wooden frame, the shanks are attached to individual brass flanges, and the back checks are metal and come up through the forked end of the shank just before it attaches to the hammer. The back checks catch on leather which is wrapped around the forked opening opposite the hammer (a picture is worth how many words??). The dampers rest underneath the strings and are pulled *down* by some spoons which protrude from the back of the action. Altogether unlike anything I've ever seen! Although it required some effort to get everything working to be able to tune it to itself at a quarter step low, it actually has potential to be a decent instrument. Any perspective or experience you can share about this piano would be helpful. Thanks.
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