Speed tests of piano actions

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1931
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 47 KB
• Volume: 212
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/s0016-0032(31)90619-4

✦ Synopsis

A manufacturer of pianos recently submitted to the Bureau of Standards models of three types of piano action requesting that speed tests be made. The models were provided with a mechanical device by means of which a rapid succession of strokes could be given the key. The rapidity of the action was recorded electrically on the oscillograph.

It was found that an action can be constructed which will respond as rapidly as 16oo strokes per minute, a speed much beyond that attainable by any artist.

Measurements were made of the speed of the hammer just before striking the string, which was found to be of the order of 3 feet per second. This is consistent with the high frefrequency because of the short stroke. In like manner the speed of the tip of a vibrating tuning fork is of the order of only one inch a second. DECOMPOSITION OF TRICALCIUM SILICATE IN THE TEMPERATURE RANGE xooo-x3oo ° C.