Pianotech

  • 1.  5 pedals?

    Member
    Posted 05-26-2019 22:22
    I haven't met this piano in person yet so I can't open it up to investigate so I thought I'd post here for enlightenment. 

    This is a Wing and Son upright I'm told dates back to 1911 and has 5 pedals!

    I can't imagine what a pianist might do with 5 pedals. Do you know? 

    I've seen cats with 7 toes but this is a new one to me : ) 

    GnjLe6XlSNCEd96dpdd5_IMG_0480.jpg

    wing2

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    Sean Stafford
    Endicott NY
    607-239-4643
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  • 2.  RE: 5 pedals?

    Posted 05-26-2019 22:33
    There is a free book online published by Mrs Wing,a descendent of the piano maker,  about the piano and family. 



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  • 3.  RE: 5 pedals?

    Posted 05-26-2019 22:36
    Hi Sean,
    I have seen both: one of my cats is polydectal and has 7 toes on each foot. Approximately 10 years ago i serviced a piano like this with 5 pedals. Sustain for all dampers, sustain for bass dampers, soft pedal and the two additional pedals would lower 2 different strips: one with the metal plates to make the piano sound like an old honky tonk or rinky dink piano and the other strip to make for yet another sound.
    Peter

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    Petrus Janssen
    Peachtree City GA
    678-416-8055
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: 5 pedals?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-26-2019 23:16

    Pedal number 5 is the mandolin attachment. A bunch of lead weights suspended on threads would rotate up against the strings when the pedal was depressed.
    Sent from my Verizon LG Smartphone



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  • 5.  RE: 5 pedals?

    Posted 05-27-2019 05:07
    Hi Sean,
    Your question really sparked my interest as I had no idea. I googled it and the best demonstration I could find was a YouTube video that the Antique Piano Shop in Friendsville TN produced. It put a big smile on my face. I hope to come across one myself someday and if it is in need of restoration, after watching this demonstration I will certainly not recommend it for firewood.




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  • 6.  RE: 5 pedals?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-27-2019 09:23
    This video from Antique Piano in Tennessee I'm pretty sure is a piano I service that resides in Norman Oklahoma. A couple additional points that weren't mentioned is that the mandolin sound on this piano is produced by tiny bells that are suspended a quarter inch or so away from the strings on about 3 octaves in the mid/ upper range. The pedal pushes them just against the strings hence the vibration.  Pressing one of the other pedals releases the mechanism because that pedal locks in place automatically when depressed. This upright also had a QRS player system installed when rebuilt.  So it's pretty crowded down below. 

    Gary Bruce
    Registered Piano Technician



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: 5 pedals?

    Posted 05-27-2019 10:45
    Wow! Great photos, the case is in prime condition unlike many old upright I refinished back in the day. This type of piano is a collector piece and not just a playable piano. Someone's grand father or mother is looking down and saying. "Tuner her up." 

    One of the two additional pedals does activate the metal strip to give it the classic honky tong sound. I have worked on a four pedal piano but never a five pedal. I don't think the last pedal is a mute pedal like so many apartment pianos still have. 

    I just say the fourth pedal is a "put the pedal to the metal". But back in 1911 there weren't many race cars but a lot of pianos in homes back then, unlike today. 



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