CFS - trivia? more

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 11/1/98 10:42:59 PM Central Standard Time,
pianotoo@imap2.asu.edu writes:

<< Yes, Charles Fredrich Stein did make his own pianos. In his later years,
 he became the consultant for the Pratt Read Co. (they made keys and actions
 for most all of the american industry). >>

One of my long term (20 years) customers has a Stein grand.  It was purchased
used by a US naturalized Chinese couple.  They had known the name, "Steinway"
and thought that was what they were getting.  They expressed their
disappointment to me.  Being the kind of technician that will work with the
piano a customer has, I told them that CFS was very well known in the industry
and that it was a good piano.

A local hotel also had one of the grands that had an unusual "soundbox" on the
soundboard at the tenor section.  Although they are not poor quality pianos,
there is no comparison between them and a Steinway.

Also, I worked for a dealer in 1978 and 1979 who sold the last of the Currier
Spinets.  The plate had CFS's name cast in it for having made the scale
design.  For a spinet, they were not bad.  They were one of the few, if not
the only, low priced console and spinet pianos of that era that had a really
good durable finish on them instead of a single or few coats of lacquer.  I
think it may have been catalyzed lacquer.

Currier also introduced a totally redesigned back and plate structure that I
thought was very interesting and had promise.  They were hoping to
revolutionize the industry but unfortunately went out of business shortly
after that.  Whoever has one of these pianos has something really unique.  It
would be interesting to know how good and stable the piano is today.  I've
never tuned one or seen one in service.  

While this new prototype may not have been exceptional, it is unfortunate that
no really fine manufacturer ever used those ideas.  Mason & Hamlin swears by
the unique "Tension Resonator" design even today.  It is what makes it a M&H
over anything else.  I've also wondered why no other manufacturer ever copied
the design or made something similar to it.  (Some pianos have a single
turnbuckle but even this is rare.)

Regards,
Bill Bremmer RPT