key width

[Wimblees@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 1/29/00 2:18:52 AM !!!First Boot!!!, 
yat-lam.hong@wmich.edu writes:

<< I don't know why it is so, but I've long noticed three distinct sizes of 
piano
 keyboards in terms of width.  The three sizes seem to group themselves
 according to their origins of manufacture.  From the bass side of A1 to the
 treble side of C88, including all the spaces between keys, they are, in
 ascending order of width:
 
 (1) American-made keyboards: 47 and 7/8",,
 (2) Asian-made keyboards: 48 and 1/8", and
 (3) European-made keyboards: 48 and 3/8". >>



I just took some measurement of the pianos in my store.  The first figure is 
the total key width, from the left edge of A1 to the right edge of C88.  The 
second figure is the width of the white keys.  The third figure is the width 
of the sharps.

used pianos
1914 6' Sohmer grand            48"     21mm (ivory)    9 mm
1950 5'2" Wm Knabe grand        47 7/8"  new key tops and new ebonies
1923 4'10" Howard grand     48"     new key tops and new ebonies
1925 5'2" Packard               48"     new key tops and new ebonies
1955 Cable Nelson Spinet        48"     21.5 mm     8.5 mm

relatively new pianos
1998 Maeari console (made by Samick) 48 1.4"    2.5 mm   9.5mm
1985 Baldwin console                    48 1/8" 21.5 mm 8.5 mm
1993 5'3" Yamaha grand                  48 3/8" 22.5 mm 9.5 mm

New  pianos
5'3" Petrof (Chech Republic)                48 3/8"         22 mm   8 mm
5'8" Petrof                             48 3/8"     22 mm   8 mm
5'2 Wm. Knabe (made by Young Chang) 48 3/8"     22 mm   9 mm    

Wim