Is there any validity to the thought that the strike pneumatics are
sized differently because of the graduated size and weight of the
hammers?  More intricate and fast passages are usually played in the
tenor and treble sections.  Longer pneumatics would overcome the
inertia of the hammers at rest in the bass and the shorter ones in
the tenor and treble because of the graduated weight of the hammers.

As Robbie noted, longer pneumatics produce greater force.  I would
think that shorter ones would repeat faster facilitating the quicker
passages.  Is the touch weight the same when played manually from the
keyboard as it is when pushed up from the back?  This is a neat subject!

Arthur Marino

 [ Perhaps the most compelling reason for Aeolian to abandon the
 [ graduated pneumatics was because the music roll -- having been
 [ edited for playing at a grand piano with graduated pneumatics --
 [ simply didn't sound right when it was played on an upright piano
 [ that didn't have the graduated pneumatics ('cause there isn't
 [ enough room in an upright).  -- Robbie