Grotrian # 20985

[John Delacour]

Richard Brekne wrote:

> What I am writing about is that the 
> underside of the sound board has a duplicate of the bridge attached 
> directly under the bridge.  TONS of extra mass... and I suppose 
> stiffness... the whole length of the long bridge.
> 
> Anyone seen this before and care to expound a bit on the roll this is 
> supposed to play and how well it does it ?

It's normal for Grotrians.  When they started doing it I don't know but 
certainly from 1905 to 1925, and that's just from two I have recent 
experience of, and the model 200 was probably continued till WW2 with 
the double bridge.  There was a discussion about it not long ago and I 
even posted some photos.  Rittmüller also produced pianos with a double 
bridge, and one with both a double bridge and a double soundboard, 
examples of both of which I have recently acquired.

I don't mind if I never see another Grotrian.  The 1925 model 200 we 
recently worked on had very little to recommend it and a thoroughly 
lousy action from Ernst Kohler or some minor firm.  The really old ones 
were good.  For some reason the Germans like them.

JD