Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > November 1998 > 1998.11.19 > 10Prev  Next


Felt 'Soft' Rail in 1920 Steinway Duo-Art
By Al Pebworth

Has anyone seen a Steinway "M" Duo-Art (1920) that used a "Practice
Style Rail with Felt Tabs" to provide the soft rail function?

There is _no_ hammer Lift Rail  on this piano, and there never has
been.  When the Soft function is called for, a pneumatic on the keybed
moves this rail with the felt tabs to a position between the hammers
and the strings.  Really my questions would be:

Did it work?  How well?  How did they prevent the tabs from being bent
when the rail was moved when a hammer was striking?  How much did the
felt change the tonal qualities of the piano?

The "Did it Work" and "How Well" questions are asked, because I assumed
that it did work, until I opened the valve box that controlled the
pneumatic, and found that the top valve adjustment had been screwed
down "tight" against the valve face, thus disabling the soft function.
There were no signs that the box had ever been opened, nor is there any
sign on the felt where it had any wear from being placed between the
strings and the hammers.

I'm sending a couple of pictures of part of this rail along, and
I guess that it will be posted where the other pictures are located.
Any information would be greatly appreciated, as this restoration is
approaching the finish line.

Al Pebworth
Pebworth's Player Piano Center
Home of Yesterday's Music
http://www.pebworths.com

 [ We'll place the two images at the Pictures web page, with an
 [ appropriate title.  That's sure a strange device for a grand piano.
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Fri 20 Nov 1998, 01:54:28 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  1920, Duo-Art, Felt, Rail, Soft, Steinway

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page