CAUT

  • 1.  Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Posted 11-16-2013 12:14
    This message has been cross posted to the following Discussions: CAUT and Pianotech .
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    All,

    Having delved into this Steinway Model A fact gathering, I couldn't help wonder how the tail of a Steinway became known as square, when in fact, it is not. It is just not as rounded as the round tail version.

    Much in the same fashion is the anomaly of square pianos being called that, when in fact, they are not, they are rectangular.

    Can anyone shed historical light on these particular peculiarities coming into being?

    Keith McGavern, RPT
    Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
    tune-repair@allegiance.tv
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  • 2.  RE:Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-16-2013 13:22
    Probably a good place to start is "The Official Guide to Steinway Pianos" authored by Roy Kehl and David Kirkland. Amadeus Press, probably available from Steinway, Amazon, and other sources. A fair bit of detail on pages 12 and 13 on A's. Round and square tails are mentioned. Maybe you could give David a call and ask when/if tail shapes are referenced in the log books. ------------------------------------------- Patrick Draine Billerica MA 978-663-9690 -------------------------------------------
    Original Message


  • 3.  RE:Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Posted 11-16-2013 14:00
    Patrick,

    Since you seem privy to a fair bit of information concerning the subject of this thread, do you not have that book? Could you not scan those two pages and copy and paste only the relevant specific information with this discussion group concerning the subject. It's not like others haven't posted  excerpts from other piano books in the past with acknowledge of its source.

    Keith McGavern, RPT
    Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
    tune-repair@allegiance.tv

    Original Message


  • 4.  Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-16-2013 17:37
    They are called square because they have square corners. Ed Foote RPT http://www.piano-tuners.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
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  • 5.  RE:Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Posted 11-16-2013 17:48
    Wow, Ed,

    I just visited a Steinway Model A today (6' 4") today, and the last thing I saw were square corners. All that I saw was a less rounded tail section.

    Are you suggesting or stating as fact that the Model A that you have actually has square corners in the tail section?

    Keith McGavern, RPT
    Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
    tune-repair@allegiance.tv

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE:Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Posted 11-17-2013 09:14
    My Model 'A' - Nr.164082 - is 6' 2", (not 6' 4") has a 'rounded' tail (as opposed to 'round'),  3 pedals and a 'tone bell'. It is 7 1/4 octaves and sounds wonderful. One thing about this S&S action though is a variation in as much as it has what is known as 'spring assists' built in to every 'carriage' (whippen?). The business of the squared tail (as opposed to 'round' tail) is that this model is the smallest of the four Models and shares all their attributes - except length wherein lies the only difference. Mine was one of the last S&S out of Hamburg before the 1914-18 war. It has been played by Benno Moiseiwicz, Ben Britten, Luiza Borac, Martin Isepp - and others of standing in the musical world. The key tops are ivory and are still in 'as new' condition - it is difficult to see the joins between Head and Tail. I restrung it about five years ago using Roslau Blues and a set of covereds from Herr Gregor Heller (Heller-Bass). Damper felts were from S&S (expensive!). The Hammer felts are the original and hardly worn. A lot of information can be gleaned from S&S relief on the tail end of the plate - date of casting &c. Michael (UK)

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    Michael Gamble
    semi retired
    Brighton
    01273813612
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  • 7.  RE: Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-17-2024 18:45
      |   view attached

    We are rebuilding a 1900 S&S A (#95050) that is listed in "Official Guide to Steinway Pianos" as having a "square tail" (p. 13), but it does not have any sign of square at the tail, as does, say, the bass side of the tail of a Bosendorfer.  Here's a picture of the page I got this information from for those who have interest.



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    Duncan Peterson, RPT
    Provo, UT
    www.TheGildedPiano.com
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    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    a ii pdf.pdf   14.57 MB 1 version
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  • 8.  RE: Square tail / round tail - Steinway

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-18-2024 14:57
    All Steinway grands after the 1878 to 1880 transition have continuous rims.  The tail will never be jointed like a Bosendorfer but will be less rounded at the corners than the very round tail.

    Regards,

    Bill

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

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message