Sunday, April 10, 2011

Pianos without a Pin Block2


Here is another variation on a piano constructed without a pin block. This is a Mason & Hamlin piano built in the later part of the 1800’s. This one is has the nickname screw stringer for the way in which the strings are mounted and held in place.

I have not come across a Mason & Hamlin screw stringer piano for some time. Replacing a string is not that difficult; cut it to the length of the bar that the screw goes through, take the screw out, wrap the wire around the hook, and put the screw back.

One of the main problems with a piano built in this fashion is the availability of the original parts. When the stringers break it is difficult to obtain replacement parts for these instruments.

 In reality these have become museum quality pieces. Pianos such as the Brinsmead and the Mason Hamlin show us a historical record of piano building, development, and pioneering invention by some of the makers.

Here are a few photos of this type of piano construction.  

MasonHamlinScrewStringer

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