[pianotech] What do you call this kind of action?

[David Boyce]

Hi Alan,

No, I wasn't thinking of the Simplex pneumatic action. What I had in 
mind was Barrie Heaton's comment on the UK Piano Page ( 
http://www.uk-piano.org/herrburgerbrooks/index.html ):

"In 1885 spring and loop actions in grands, sometimes incorrectly known 
as simplex actions, were being made by Herrburger Brooks. This action is 
a single escapement action".

I don't know why Barrie says it is "incorrectly" known as the simplex 
action.  Maybe because of the possible confusion with the pneumatic 
action!  Or was there another Grand action, that was CORRECTLY called 
the simplex? Or was it just that no maker of them ever  called them 
"simplex", but called them D-Type Spring and Loop?

The feeling of "something missing! that I was referring to, was the 
double escapement, the roller, and the repetition lever!.  It may be, 
too, that these pianos don't feel as good, because being cheap, not much 
attention was given to key leading etc.  But I do think it's more likely 
to be the action. Don't you?

Brian Capleton has a black and white photo of a D-Type Spring & Loop 
action on p17 of his action  regulation book, and a short chapter on 
regulating it, from p95. there, he says "this action is as much capable 
of sensitive  repetition as the roller action, when it is 
well-regulated". Hmmm....

Herbert Shead's The Anatomy Of The Piano, on p50 has a diagram of a 
D-Type Spring & Loop action and says "A modern non-repetition action 
fitten to many small pianos"  One wonders how a  "non-repetition action" 
could possibly be "as much capable of sensitive repetition".

George W. Booth in his  book "Pianos, Piano-Tuners and their Problems" 
(Janus Publishing Company, London, 1996) devotes Chapter 3 to " 'D'-type 
Spring and Loop Grand Piano Actions". He notes that "these actions were 
made in their thousands over a great  many years and fitted by many 
well-known makers into their instruments to provide a range of 
prices............ The actions have built-in problems, caused by cheap 
design and poor quality materials".  He then goes on to discuss some of 
the problems and has several photos, in the chapter of eight and a half 
pages.

Hope this is helpful, folks!

Best regards,

David Boyce.




"I think the Simplex action was something else.  I can't remember where I
have read this, and will need to look it up."
 
*Perhaps you are thinking of the Simplex pneumatic action for player 
pianos?*
** 
"But every one I've played, feels as if there is something missing -and, 
of course, there is!"
 
*Usually the missing element is the una corda; these actions normally 
have a half blow system.*
** 
*AF*
*(from Glasgow... once a week)*
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