Tuning Pins/Lam. Blocks (Forwarded)

[William E. Darst]

This was forwarded to me from Belgium.  The sender, a fortepiano builder,
isn't able to subscribe to lists yet and so I am forwarding posts and
collecting replies.  Sounds like good questions.

>Date: 27 Mar 95 17:36:37 EST
>From: Paul Poletti <100407.2266@compuserve.com>
>To: Bill Darst <darst@humanitas.ucsb.edu>
>Subject: pianos (again?!)
>
>Hi Bill,
>
>A couple of questions that perhaps you can post on the Piano Tech for me:
>
>1. When were modern tuning pins (with the fine threading) first used?
>2. When were laminated pinblocks first used regularly and by whom?
>3. Does 1 have any connection with 2? I have seen many late 19th-c pianos with
>old style pins, that is flat heads and either no threads or very rough threads
>on them, in solid-wood pinblocks. Has anybody seen these in laminated
>blocks, or
>definitely original fine-thread pins in solid blocks?
>4. Any ideas on what exactly the fine threading does (other than make the pin
>rise and fall with rotation)?
>
>Paul

Bill Darst
Music Dept
UC Santa Barbara