The Piano Maker's Manuscript

A two-plate technical dossier on the grand piano in the style of a maker's workshop manuscript — the case and scaling on Plate One, the action, touch and pedals on Plate Two.

What's inside

• Tabula I — woods and their density, the soundboard crown and ribs, a full case diagram with proportions, and a table of case measurements in millimetres
• The scale of speaking lengths across the compass, and the lid and legs with their bearing figures
• Tabula II — the double escapement action after Érard, the keyboard octave span, and dampers, felts and the undamped treble
• A regulation and touch table with the eight settings, and the three pedals and their offices
• Equal-temperament tuning figures, care of the instrument, and a catalogue of the historic piano makers