Hi David,
A few things...
1) I don't know if I'm responding to you directly or if this goes to the Group. Many of the posts above this one do not show up in my daily summary. I'm just learning.
2) I will give one obvious example, but many of the other equal temperament aural checks do not confirm proper intervals: a major third/major 10th test to verify a clean A3 - A4 octave does not even come close as with listening to the octave itself for cleanliness. The minor 3rd - major 6th test does not yield satisfying results either. I do not have the piano setup so I can't delve into it any deeper.
3) I tuned a harpsichord at the college where I teach piano technology to 1/4 meantone standard (from RCT library) and each person who came into the room went ugh, that sounds terrible. Some were music professors; however, after I demonstrated to them how the bearing was set, and the different character between several keys, their views changed. Our choral/orchestral director (professor) said after a while, "Oh, those pure thirds relax me."
4) I demonstrated to the whole class a bit later (and I did this theatrically, with one of my students playing the harpsichord) how Chopin's Prelude Op. 28, No. 4 in e minor spoke of an unrequited love until it resolved into a successful tryst. Then she played it on a well-tuned vertical. Yuck! After that, back to the harpsichord for cleansing the palate.
I tuned a Baldwin SF-10 after class that night and found equal temperament excruciatingly harsh.
Convert? Maybe.
Regards,
Peter
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Peter Acronico RPT
San Jose CA
(408) 838-2559
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-10-2026 16:51
From: David Pinnegar
Subject: Broadwood Piano
Gene and Peter
Please forgive me for being confused by different instruments on this thread. I haven't been able to see photos if any have been posted.
Underdampers would indicate an instrument possibly in the 1850s. Not later.
If the decal on the fallboard is paper in a wooden rectangle it is before mid 1850s. If it's squirly script it will be late 1850s to 1870s and if a typeface lettering, later.
If the wrestplank isn't iron with threaded pins, then it's 1850s and before.
As someone else says here, keeping original is vital in terms of hammers and other things, and tuning pins too.
Peter - what do you mean by Equal Temperament tests? Your observation might be quite interesting and important so if you could expand on this it would be potentially very helpful.
On the 1869 Cottage Grand we restrung with Roslau blue. The treble is weak with many false notes and this coincides with a lack of crown in the soundboard in that region. Would Paulello help with this? A historic instrument restoration friend says that he has met instruments of this date and type before and the old trick was to use wedges to force the soundboard up and he has a special system of miniature acro-props. The 1850 Hallé instrument is sounding similarly woody in the top octave and probably from the same issue.
We used Heller Bass for the wound strings. And yes, they are moderated by felt on the bridge. Keep it.
Best wishes
David P