Re: Various Reproducing/Expression Pianos
By Robin Pratt
Hi, thought I could shed a little light on some of today's topics and questions.
KBELLISON-Karl, the partial "reproducer" you speak of as Recordo is probably actually a model "C" Recordo. This was the most sophistocated of the Recordo systems which were called (even back then) "Expression" pianos. (As opposed to Reproducing pianos. The logic being that they could not reproduce "full" expression.) BUT if you ever heard one, you would have to disagree.
Unfortunately the rolls tended to be the questionable area in this format.
Mostly QRS stock recordings...Not that there is anything wrong with those great rolls, it is just that many were arranged mathematical rolls with expression added.) Anyway, I digress. There were 3 Recordo systems "A", "B" and "C". More detail on the history of these systems can been found in the Bob and Jinny Billings fabulous 3 Volumne set on the Recordo and its recordings and history. Since this Brunswick is so late in the game productionwise, it probably is the later model "C". Which I believe gave 16 levels of expression. The earlier systems expression methods gave dynamics that were cumulative and not (like a Duo-Art) able to be used in different combinations. In other words, in the earlier system, when you turned on 1 then 2 then 3 then 4, they would all add up total 4. However if you had on 4 and wanted to add 3 or 2 or 1, it would make no difference. The later systems gave you the capability to use all of the levels of dynamic individually. Unfortunately, there is no designation in the roll production to show which rolls go with which ... But once again if you read the Billings book, it will tell you more. WHEW!
Rick Pargeter-Regarding the Standard Artist Record Action...
This was also a late entry into the player field and one of Standard Pneumatic Action Company's last efforts. What it is is NOT 88 note. The Artist Record Action gave the player owner the option to play ALL rolls INCLUDING reproducing rolls. By eliminating the end notes from the stack altogether, one could play any rolls without the annoying clink clink thunk thunk of the expression coding twittering away in the high treble and low bass registers. Also as Gulbransen discovered, They could save a lot of money by eliminating 1000's of pneumatics from production on an annual basis!
I have a Waltham with the Artist Record Action and it also has 2!!! soundboards. It is called the Double-Toned Violin- Backed Soundboard and has a great 2nd soundboard between the joists that is cut-out to look like a big fat violin. What a surprise when that was delivered after I bought it for $30. It is about 1928 and has 2 levers in the spool box. One is for a Mandolin (Harpsichord) sound created by tabs of bellows cloth hanging down in front of the hammers, but instead of metal tabs, there is a small round dowel (is there any other shape for a dowel?) that is SEWN into the end of the tab. I don't look forward to that job! Also to be used in conjunction with the rail, is another rail that folds down in front of the hammer SHANKS. This one is felt covered (like the green felt usually found on damper rails) and stops the hammer's stroke short of full blow. When used with the mandolin rail it is quite expressive and subtle! By the way the Waltham piano is first rate.
I also looked up the Metz piano for the Allied Piano Company of New York and found nothing in the Pierce Atlas. More than likely it was a "Stencil" piano made for the a store or Chain of stores called the Allied Music Company and they (like Grinnell Brothers in Detroit) applied their Decal to the fallboard. This was common practice then and is still available today from piano manufacturers. Grinnell had all kinds of names: Clayton, Playtona, etc.
Back to Standard Artist Record Actions by Standard Pneumatic Action Company. ANY action by them is FIRST RATE and if properly rebuilt will (as Art Reblitz says) give ANY player a run for the money! Hope this is some help.
Robin Pratt |
(Message sent Fri 1 Sep 1995, 04:33:42 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.) |
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