Piano Construction Origins, was: Butt-Jointed Ribs

[Thomas A. Sheehan]

Dear Terry,

It's my impression (from Wolfensohn's "A Treatise on the Art of Piano
Building" ?) that many woodworkers from boat building came over to piano
building beginning in c. 1850s. They had a lot of knowledge of joining wood,
cutting it, judging its quality, being able to take precise measurements,
etc., etc.). The ultimate in transportable skills. The piano industry was
growing and would have been a very attractive industry to be involved with.
Naturally, they brought their own "technobabble" with them.

Sincerely yours,

Tom Sheehan, RPT
NYC Chapter

PS. I have immensely enjoyed and benefited from your numerous postings to
this list. I don't know how you find the time to be so active on pianotech,
when you are obviously busy in running and developing a successful business.
Thank you for all your efforts for piano technicians, and for the industry
in general through your participation on pianotech.

TS


----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 7:46 AM
Subject: Piano Construction Origins, was: Butt-Jointed Ribs


> Del wrote:
>
> "....so much of early piano construction came from the wooden boatbuilding
industry of the day."
>
> Now you've got my interest! Is there some traceable lineage from boats to
pianos? I can't quite picture where pianos have things in common with
boatbuilding as opposed to furniture or buildings. I trust the use of hide
glue is not one of the things in common?
>
> Or are you just pulling my leg and now I am looking like a major dufus
because I fell for it?  ;-)
>
> Terry Farrell
>
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