Tuning a Coin Piano or Orchestrion that has Extra Instruments

In an antique coin piano or orchestrion, if the xylophone or pipes were
tuned to A=435, then tune the piano to A=435.  It's as simple as that!

While very few 20th century pianos will be harmed by tuning them to
A=440, why would you want to tune a historic coin piano or orchestrion
to the wrong pitch if the extra instrument was originally tuned to
A=435?  There's nothing sacred about A=440, as there have been many
different pitch standards over the last 250 years.

If you can't tell what the original tuning pitch was for the extra
instrument, ask someone who can.  Never cut pipes shorter just so
they'll play at A=440.  In doing so, you'll change the scaling, or
proportion of length to cross section, and it will be very difficult
to restore them to the original length if the next owner cares about
authenticity.

If you're interested in creating something new and different, please
don't start with a historic coin piano, orchestrion, or band organ.
There are plenty of old pianos and pipe organ parts that have little
or no antique value, available for you at low cost, to use for
experimenting.

Art Reblitz
http://www.reblitzrestorations.com/