Thank you so much Michael, above and beyond! I believe I have found an answer via help from Carey Beebe in Australia. According to Carey, the reason for those lower notes going from the 20 stamped on the wrestplank, at the first two, and then up to 22 is what gauge standard was used. Here are his words:
"
The answer is that the bass strings, probably phosphor bronze originally, are measured in standard wire gauge ("SWG"), where the number series goes in reverse, smaller numbers denoting larger diameters. The steel strings are measured in music wire gauge ("MWG"), where the number series reduces in line with the diameter."
He does not explain how the brass wire was gauged but we can guess that de Blaise used MWG for the brass. My guess now is that at some point after my instrument was built someone replaced the phosphor bronze wire with yellow brass and followed the MWG protocol. It certainly would make sense. On your model A, might those lower strings be phosphor bronze?
Thank you for offering to measure the diameter on the 4' strings but that is not necessary for my purposes. If you can tell me what the gauge markings are on the wrestplank and, how many notes per each number would be all that I need to compare to mine.
The gauge markings for the 8' on your instrument are a bit different than mine. Below shows the gauge number, what diameter I measured, number of notes and type of wire:
00 .008 5 notes steel
0 .099 5 notes steel
1 .010 9 notes steel
2 .011 7 notes steel
3 .012 5 notes steel
4 .013 3 notes steel
5 .014 3 notes steel
6 .016 3 notes steel
7 .018 1 note steel
7 .018 3 notes brass (7 is not stamped twice on the wrestplank, it changes from steel to brass within the one 7 marking.)
8 .020 3 notes brass
9 .022 3 notes brass
10 .024 3 notes brass
11 .026 2 notes brass
22 .036 2 notes brass
21 .032 2 notes brass
20 .028 2 notes brass
It is interesting that your instrument has some 1/2 markings and that the .008 steel went through two markings. My model A is quite a bit older than yours so we can guess that they were experimenting with different gauges through the years.
I did hear from Malcolm Rose and he wondered if those lower strings were "covered." From all I have seen, I do not believe that is the case. I will get back to him with the information I received from Carey.
Well, I think I would prefer if my little part of the USA would just float into the Atlantic (maybe we could meet up somewhere in the middle!). I'm afraid the USA is sinking into a black hole and into a terribly twisted universe. :-)
Best,
Don
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[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
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dmckech@ithaca.edu]
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2018 11:55
From: Michael Gamble
Subject: William de Blaise wire scale
I have unearthed the Model 'A' deBlaise from under the Model 'A' Hamburger S&S, put it on its legs and have taken the gauges of the 8ft Choir. I noted the numerals next to certain wrest pins for the 8ft. As the strings here are readily accessible I have measured the entire 8ft. choir.
We shall start at the top - No.61 - the F, stamped 00 on the wrest plank. This is a steel 0.008". Though the C# below this has a '0' stamped, in my H'ch. it is still 0.008" The first gauge-change comes at #53 - the A. This is 0.010", stamped 1 1/2. Next gauge change is at #50, stamped '2' this is steel 0.011". This gauge goes through to '#36 then changes at #35 (stamped '3') to 0.012". This goes thru' to #27 even though there's a '4' stamped at #31 below the break. Next gauge change is at #26 - F# stamped '5' and is 0.014" gauge for just three strings for at #23 D# it changes to gauge 0.015" stamped'6' This D# and the next D are the last of the 'steels' for at #21 C# it changes to brass, 0.015" stamped '6 1/2'. #20 'C' is stamped '7' and is 0.018" for just three strings. Then at #17 'A' the gauge is 0.020". again just for three strings changing at #14, F# to 0.022" stamped '9'. Next gauge change is #11 D# gauge 0.024" stamped '10'. Next change is #8 C gauge 0.028 (but stamped #22) then to #4 G# gauge 0.032" stamped 21. The last two notes #2 and #1 are both gauge 0.035" but stamped 20. A load of nonsense unless they're using a totally different set of gauges for the last three gauges - but I fancy they put a '20' where it should read '22' - and vice-versa.
Whether I can get my micrometer in under the 8' choir to measure the 4' choir is another thing. I haven't tried yet - but it looks very cramped up at the top end!!
So, if you want me to try please say - otherwise you may be able to extrapolate the 4' from the 8'. Anyway I don't think H'chord strings get any thinner than 0.008". They're probably shorter than the 8' ones which would account for . . . something.
Michael from Sunny Sussex-on-Sea in a UK which is currently drifting into the Atlantic - I think . . . . Think BREXIT !
Original Message------
Hi Michael,
You mentioned this book to me a while back and I did purchase a copy from Amazon. Very informative and thanks for the recommendation. It is interesting to read how Martin Huggett describes the personality of de Blaise as opposed to the description in Zuckermann's book. No doubt though that de Blaise was firmly on the side of the 20th century idea of harpsichord construction.
Best,
Don
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[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
[dmckech@ithaca.edu]
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