CAUT

  • 1.  Josef Hofmann's pedal

    Posted 03-08-2019 11:40
    I'll start a new thread to  both Discussions, no real answer to the pedal question. but many years ago I was asked by Hofmann's son to visit and appraise  a Steinway grand that was in storage at a local Boston warehouse.  When we set up the appointment he did not tell me who his father was just that there was a piano in storage that he wanted appraising, with the lid raised  the first question to him was what ''what are  all those one inch diameter holes in the sounding board, then he 'fessed up who his father was and how he was always experimenting with his various Steinway pianos for improved tone, as you know Steinway did incorporate some of his patented 'inventions'  to the action, and yes this particular Steinway did have the slightly shortened keyboard specially made by Steinway for JF  as per his wishes to accommodate shorter fingers.

    ------------------------------
    Martin Snow
    Boston MA
    617-543-1030
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Josef Hofmann's pedal

    Posted 03-08-2019 11:55
    Hi, Martin,

    Thanks very much for this.

    It's probably safe to speculate that Hofmann burned through pianos
    nearly as often as most of us change our socks. All of the couple dozen
    that I've seen that had reasonable provenance that included ownership by
    him have had various modifications made.

    As to the fourth pedal, the instruments I've seen that had this
    modification all had it as a blow-shortening device...just like on an
    upright.

    Kind regards.

    Horace

    On 3/8/2019 8:40 AM, Martin Snow via Piano Technicians Guild wrote:
    > Please do not forward this message due to Auto Login.
    >
    > I'll start a new thread to?? both Discussions, no real answer to the pedal question. but many years ago I was asked by Hofmann's son to visit and appraise?? a Steinway grand that was in storage at a local Boston warehouse.?? When we set up the appointment he did not tell me who his father was just that there was a piano in storage that he wanted appraising, with the lid raised?? the first question to him was what ''what are?? all those one inch diameter holes in the sounding board, then he 'fessed up who his father was and how he was always experimenting with his various Steinway pianos for improved tone, as you know Steinway did incorporate some of his patented 'inventions'?? to the action, and yes this particular Steinway did have the slightly shortened keyboard specially made by Steinway for JF?? as per his wishes to accommodate shorter fingers.
    >
    > ------------------------------
    > Martin Snow
    > Boston MA
    > 617-543-1030
    > ------------------------------
    >
    >
    > Reply to Sender : https://my.ptg.org/eGroups/PostReply/?GroupId=49&SenderKey=5822a915-d505-47e5-a059-f7c600104811&MID=700257&MDATE=756%253e45845%253d&UserKey=3feecf45-4a69-4cff-bbb2-fd6c7eaf0569&sKey=KeyRemoved
    >
    > Reply to Discussion : https://my.ptg.org/eGroups/PostReply/?GroupId=49&MID=700257&MDATE=756%253e45845%253d&UserKey=3feecf45-4a69-4cff-bbb2-fd6c7eaf0569&sKey=KeyRemoved
    >
    >
    >
    > You are subscribed to "CAUT" as hgreeley@sonic.net. To change your subscriptions, go to http://my.ptg.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions&MDATE=756%253e45845%253d&UserKey=3feecf45-4a69-4cff-bbb2-fd6c7eaf0569&sKey=KeyRemoved. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to http://my.ptg.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=3feecf45-4a69-4cff-bbb2-fd6c7eaf0569&sKey=KeyRemoved&GroupKey=e03c48ae-bba7-4045-9d5f-c5e4b7b46b15.
    >




  • 3.  RE: Josef Hofmann's pedal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-08-2019 12:03
    Horace,
    Perhaps you didn't see the photo, which is here. It seems to connect to the damper pedal rod, though it would be nice to have a second photo to be sure. 

    The fourth pedal on Stuart and Steingraeber does reduce hammer blow, while also reducing key dip proportionally (or at least removing the lost motion factor). Interestingly enough, this was invented by Claude Montal back in the 1850s. He called it the "expression" pedal, saying that shift altered the timbre to much and too unpredictably to function well as a soft pedal.
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    University of New Mexico