standard pitch in 1850?

[Ned Swift]

Hi all.

A point of curiosity here.  Shouldn't we be able to reverse engineer this 
scale to determine what the proper pitch should be?  Normally I  wouldn't 
reply and defer to my more versed associates.  But, no one replied so I ask 
the question.  It seems like some of the equations that John Travis provides 
could be modified to answer this question.  Perhaps I am over simplifying 
the problem.  Just an question.

Ned Swift
Lowell, MI





>From: Stéphane Collin <collin.s@skynet.be>
>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Subject: Re: standard pitch in 1850?
>Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 17:03:44 +0100
>
>Hi Terry.
>
>Just one more impertinent thought of mine ...
>
>I heard at least 3 Collard & Collard upright pianos from about that period 
>(last half of 19 th century) who, when tuned at A = 440 Hz, featured all 
>the same strange sound, exactly similar to the sound of a standard piano 
>tuned 2 or 3 whole tones below normal.  (Anyone noticed the same ?  anyone 
>knows why ?)
>Would this mean that this particular brand used to tune its instruments 
>higher than other ?  Or that this brand expected this strange sound to 
>seduce musicians ?  Or that in those days there was nothing like a commonly 
>agreed standard for pitch ?
>A good test would be to tune the instrument up until the strings break, and 
>then, you know you are too high.  But then, how much safety factor did they 
>use, and what steel did they use ? (So many informations that are 
>irremediably lost !  That's why I would trust my aesthetical sense for what 
>is just beautiful, and believe that well intentionned people in those days 
>shared the same).
>
>Stéphane Collin
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "pianolover 88" <pianolover88@hotmail.com>
>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2002 2:30 AM
>Subject: standard pitch in 1850?
>
>
>| Does anyone know what standard international picth was in 1850? My 
>Brother
>| recently bought a Broadwood "straight-strung" 6' cottage grand, and i 
>want
>| to tune it to the pitch which would have been correct for its time.
>|
>| Also, i have yet to see this piano in person, but i'm told the tuning 
>pins
>| require a special lever and/or tip. Can someone please advise me as to 
>where
>| i might find this particular tuning tool, as i am assuming my modern 
>lever
>| will NOT fit. thanks to the list for your help!
>|
>|
>| Terry Peterson
>|
>|
>|
>|
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