Historical question

[FREDIEBOY@aol.com]

In 1828 Jean-Henri Pape put the longest bass strings to cross over the
shorter trebel and middle strings.
>From "Pianos And There Makers" by Alfred Dolge.
One of the most interesting leaders of the french piano industry was Johann
Heinrich Pape, born at Sarstedt, Germany, on July 1, 1789. He arrived at
Paris in 18098; but shortly after went to london, studying there for over a
year, returning to Paris in 1811. In 1815 he started in business on his own,
and commenced a carnival of experiments, the record of which is amazing. It
seems as if Pape's mind just bubbled over with ideas, some so bizarre and
queer as to border on the ridiculous.  He took out over 120 patents for piano
uimprovments. He made many very good pianos in his big factory, but before
one of his often brilliant ideas was thoroughly worked out to practical
usefulness, he would come up with another idea of improvement, which
necessitated yet another change in the piano then under construction. His
reputation as an inventer spread all over Europe, and while in his prime,
from 1835 to 1855, Pape had in his factory young men from all parts of the
Continent studying under him. Many of them became well known later on , among
his most talented pupils being Frederick Mathushek and Carl Bechstein. At one
time he owned one of the largest piano factories of Paris, employing over 300
men, He died a poor man on February 2,1875.

Fred Weinstein MPT