Pinblock Question

[John Delacour]

At 6:45 pm -0400 19/3/07, Phil Bondi wrote:

>I met a 1929 Bechstein Upright today. Its condition is pretty 
>remarkable, but there's a question:
>
>This piano has an open face pinblock, and it has 85 notes.
>
>I thought that by 1929, open face pinblocks and 85 note pianos were 
>a thing of the past..obviously I'm wrong.
>
>When did open face pinblocks and 85 note pianos become extinct?

For Bechstein the switch FROM the all-over iron frame TO the open 
wrestplank took place about 1900 and the open plank continued, I 
think I'm correct, until very recently.  I'm not sure about the 
latest Bechsteins, which are Bechsteins only in name anyway.

In 1900 only the model III/8 and the larger and rarer 7 had 88 notes. 
Models IV/9 and the vertical V/10 had 85 notes.  This is likely to 
have continued throughout the 1930s and probably after the war as 
well.  Only pianos considered professional instruments will have 88 
notes, domestic pianos 85, until quite recently.

I personally consider the open plank the best construction, but it 
required more handwork in those days and was therefore more costly.

JD