rim supported soundboards tesnion resonator rods

[Ken Jankura]

A number of years back, John Zeiner did a restringing class at a  PA state
conference, and brought in a Lauter piano for demonstation purposes whose
rim was made of concrete. I don't remember what it sounded like but Lauter
isn't all that well-known now is it? I didn't take the class, but there were
groups of incredulous people checking it out all weekend. Jokes like, "Oh
it's a Masonry & Hamlin", etc.
Ken Jankura

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Trout" <btrout@desupernet.net>

>The more solid the rim of a
> piano, the better termination that soundboard has as it attaches to the
rim.
> This is a good thing!  Ya know, I'd love to hear what a piano made out of
a
> concrete rim would sound like.  Only thing, I have a feeling we'd have
> trouble finding piano movers!
>
> 'Nuff comments from the peanut gallery.  (Just some random thoughts
> anyway...)
>
> Have a good day, folks!
>
> Brian Trout
> Quarryville, PA
> btrout@desupernet.net
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Moody" <remoody@midstatesd.net>
> To: "piano tech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2001 1:42 AM
> Subject: rim supported soundboards tesnion resonator rods
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > >But certainly if the rim did spread out a bit, it would tend to flatten
> the
> > >board. So I should think the rods would help maintain crown. Yes? No?
> >
> > No.
> >
>
............................................................................
> ....
> > ....................................
> >
> >
> > There is nothing preventing piano makers from using the rim to support a
> crown.
> > Whether it worked or not is another story.  Yet according to Dolge, the
> "Tension
> > Resonator" patents of Richard Gerz in 1900 were supposed to do just
that.
> >
> > "...the purport of which is to regulate the pressure in the arch of the
> > soundboard against the strings and to assist the vibratory efficiency of
> the
> > entire soundboard......    Another function of this resonator is to
> restore the
> > original arched form of the soundboard....[to]draw together the entire
rim
> upon
> > which the soundboard is fastened, and force the latter back to its
> original
> > arched form, reinstating and enlivening the vibratory action of the
entire
> > board. ...the tension rods can be screwed up, either simultaniously to
> bring
> > pressure upon the entire board, or individually if any part of the
> soundblard
> > should show a pronounced flatness.  They are furthermore of great value
in
> > maintaining the correct form and shape of the rim.  This invention has
> been
> > applied to all the grand pianos made by Mason & Hamlin since the
granting
> of the
> > patent. "
> >         (Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers. p110)
> >
> >     I have heard considerable debate about what actually (if anything)
was
> > accomplished by the rods.  Never the less if M&H did design a rim to
> support the
> > sound board arch the concept was at least given a try. The interesting
> part of
> > the debate to me is whether this is an efficacious way of maintaining
the
> crown.
> > I am not sure anyone knows, unless they are/have actually used it.
> >     I wonder if makers have put soundboards by themselves in a room with
> > variable humidity and measured dimensional changes, the arch in
> > particular.  ---ric
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>