>When you think about it, what are the chances of two technicians, half a >world away, finding out they worked on the only two pianos with a steel >soundboard ever made in the world. Isn't this internet great? > >Willem Blees RPT >St. Louis.=20 Great is a too small word! To sad we can't verify that it was a Frankel and that there was only 2 of them built, that would have been interesting information. But since both you and I have have lost track of the instruments, maybe it wasn't meant to be preserved for history.=20 The theme of that particular part of mr Conklins article was new materials in piano building over the years. He also mentions an American harpsicord builder called John Challis who many years later (1961) constructed a piano with a metal soundboard and bridge. A recording of this piano can be heard on a CD that cames with the book. In 1969, a P A Bert issued a US patent describing a soundboard with a sandwich construction consisting of a cellular core and plastic facings. I had never heard of the fantastic glass soundboard but I am glad that the tradition of trying crazy new things continues! Greetings =D6sten H=E4ggmark Stockholm, Sweden PS Don't worry about the dots
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