Pianotech

Back to discussions
Expand all | Collapse all

Interesting Soundboard Design

  • 1.  Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-05-2024 22:58
    Top side ribs as well s as bottom side. Which way is it crowned?  Haven't seen this in person yet. 



    ------------------------------
    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
    ------------------------------



  • 2.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Posted 08-05-2024 23:16
    Correction. Ribs are on both sides.



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Posted 08-06-2024 04:56

    When it goes flat it will be turned upside down :)



    ------------------------------
    Hugh Trott
    musician
    No affiliations
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-06-2024 20:47

    Julius Bauer. Positive crown and, if it's like the 9' JB that I once owned, it will be rock solid. It might even be adjustable -- look for bolts butting up against the separate inner rim. 

    ddf 



    ------------------------------
    [Delwin D] Fandrich] [RPT]
    [Piano Design & Manufacturing Consultant]
    [Fandrich Piano Co., Inc.]
    [Olympia] [WA]
    [360-515-0119]
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-07-2024 02:11
    Charles Cadby in England in 1850 and Theodore Steinway in 1869 preceded Bauer.  Adjustability of impedance or crown is part of both designs even as there may be no adjustment mechanism in the completed piano.

     Here are references to Cadby which Larry Lobel and I discussed years ago:

    From the book "Makers of the Piano, Vol 2 (1820-1860)" by Martha Novak Clinkscale, page 69:

    "CADBY Charles (fl. 1839-85).  The Charles Cadby Patent Pianoforte Manufactory was first listed at 21 Alfred Street, Tottenham Court Road, Bedford Square, in London.  From 1848 to 1863 the firm was listed at several numbers in Liquorpond Street (e.g. 33 1/2, in 1850, and 38 and 39 in 1855).  By 1860 they had added 42 New Bond Street, and in 1869 their address was Little Tothill Street, Little Gray's Inn Lane.  Renamed Charles Cadby and Son, the company listed their address as "Near Addison Road Station".  Charles Cadby and Co. were located in Hammersmith Road in 1879. 

    In 1850 Cadby registered a patent (English, no. 3,221) for a detachable soundboard that was suspended above the frame.  He entered three (or two?) of his pianos in the Great Exhibition in London in 1851:  (1) a rosewood grand, (2) a grand of zebra wood, and (3) a cottage piano; all these instruments utilized Cadby's suspended soundboard." 

    From the book "The Piano-Forte, It's History Traced to the Great Exhibition of 1851," by Rosamond Harding, page 268:

    "In 1850 Cadby relieved the soundboard from the downward pressure of the strings by 'so adapting it to the instrument that fhe former being wholly or partially detached from permanent connection with the framework and suspended therefrom by metallic or other attachments may be strained or tightened when desired' and removed for repairs when necessary.  The clamps held the board firmly whilst it was being tightened by means of tightening screws at the opposite side.  Dr. Wood suggests that by means of this arrangement of being able to tighten or slacken the soundboard it would be possible to brighten the tone of the instrument in any register where it might be weak.  This would be especially valuable in the upper octaves since they were used so much by composers." 


    Larry Lobel, RPT
    Virtuoso Piano Service
    Petaluma, California

    (707) 762-5800

    Regards,

    Bill

    Bill Shull, RPT, M.Mus.
    www.shullpiano.com
    www.periodpiano.org
    909 796-4226

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-07-2024 03:57
    I'd like to see some illustrations of this. The description is not all that clear.

    ddf

    --
    Delwin D Fandrich
    Fandrich Piano Company
    Piano Design and Manufacturing Consulting Services -- Worldwide
    6939 Foothill Ct SW -- Olympia, WA 98512 -- USA
    Phone 360.515.0119 -- Mobile 360.388.6525



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-06-2024 09:02

    Perhaps it's not crowned at all...?  Inquiring minds want to know.

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



    ------------------------------
    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-06-2024 09:03

    That's wild! Could it be a tropicalization thing? Especially with all the screws going through...



    ------------------------------
    Nathan Monteleone RPT
    Fort Worth TX
    (817) 675-9494
    nbmont@gmail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-06-2024 13:46

    I don't think it's a tropicalization issue. I think that's just the design.  I'm curious about it and whether it's crowned and if so, how the crown is formed. With ribs on both sides, compression crowning seems  a little bit out of the question.  I have seen these  these, several years ago now, but at the time wasn't as investigative about soundboard design



    ------------------------------
    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Posted 08-06-2024 14:37
    After reading Bauers notes, his several designs attempted to balance internal forces for more stability. For example his upright was designed so the string tension ran through the central plane of the plate. Same principle for the soundboard ribs and panel. He also 

    -chris



    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Member
    Posted 08-06-2024 09:51

    David... what brand and year is the piano ? Mehlin and a number of others had some interesting ideas and designs. I recall seeing ads for pianos that had multiple soundboards in them creating sound chambers. One Mehlin I service has a sloping plate, sloping soundboard, a cutout and high bridges and built on violin design specs. Another Mehlin was a vertical grand with a grand plate stood on end. The plate in your piano is also quite interesting and worth studying and taking pictures of 



    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-06-2024 10:48

    Looks like a Jules Bauer I saw where the rim can easily be separated from the body.



    ------------------------------
    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-06-2024 13:39

    That's correct a Bauer. 
    I think I put it in the photo description, but not in the post. Sorry about that.



    ------------------------------
    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Interesting Soundboard Design

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-07-2024 07:47

    I've seen two of these. One of which the client restrung himself. He actually did a very respectable job. 

    He told me the plate came out strung. Positive crown well retained on both instruments. 



    ------------------------------
    Dave Conte, RPT

    Piano Technician in Residence
    The University of Tennessee
    College of Music
    Knoxville TN
    (817) 307-5656
    Owner: Rocky Top Piano
    ------------------------------

    Original Message