Stephen, Concerning the Erard evaluation, I will get the photos developed and hopefully scanned in and posted. I don't think Pierce indicates Paris or London associations with the listed serial numbers. I may go back and measure some string lengths - but it will be a couple of weeks. Anthing else I should take note of on the next trip? I believe there were 4 longitudinal bars and no cross braces - I need to double check to be sure. It seems like a waste for this instrument to not be in good condition. Thanks for your input. Bob > Bob reported: > > >here's more info on the Erard: > >The serial no. is 3947. According to Pierce Atlas > that > >would put it between 1810 and 1815. > > Something odd with that methinks. From your > description it sounds > much later. Are you sure that Pierce is referencing > London Erards > here? > > > > I didn't do any string > >diameter measuring,- I should have. > > String lengths would have told a lot, even if you > only have one C > string it can give a quick and dirty date. > > > You used the term echelle > >which is a new term to me. > > That's the early version of the Erard action, the > one he invented and > first produced in 1823. The echelle is on account of > the resemblance > to a ladder - there's a not-very-clear photo on my > website at > http://real.uwaterloo.ca/~sbirkett/piano%20action.htm. > > These were retrofitted (by the factory) in the 1840s > using the the > new version of the action, so not many of the > echelle type are extant. > > > Photos would be useful. Please post. > > > Stephen > -- > Dr Stephen Birkett > Associate Professor > Department of Systems Design Engineering > University of Waterloo > Waterloo, Ontario > Canada N2L 3G1 > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 50x more storage than other providers! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
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