The important French piano builder Henri Pape (1789-1875) is regarded as an experimenter – designer. Pape pioneered the expansion of the piano’s frequency and dynamic ranges. Henri Pape had a profound influence on piano builders of his time and contributed greatly to the evolution of piano design.
His most important innovations are the use of felt for hammers, made out of rabbits hair and lamb’s wool patented in 1826, cross stringing of his pianinos patented in 1828, the use of piano wire made of tempered steel patented in 1845.The expanded compass of eight chromatic spans, patented in 1842,101 was exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1844. The Stuart & Sons piano compass of 97 notes was pioneered by Henri Pape’s patent of 1842, a design of 8 chromatic spans, F0 – F8.
Iron & Steel Developments.
Since the early 1700s, piano design has experienced both rapid and slow periods of development. Perhaps a most important development that defines the modern piano, occurred in the first half of the 19th Century, as the technological, acoustical and mechanised advancements in metallurgy made possible the production of iron frames and piano wire with high tensile capacity. These advancements were initially adopted by theAmerican, Chickering (1823) and Steinway (1853) and the German, Bechstein (1853) and Bluthner(1853) piano makers. This industrial standard ‘change of the guard’, from wood to iron in the 1860s brought about changes in manufacturing methods of pianos that
99The term ‘chromatic span’ is interpreted in this instance as being a group of 11 semi-tones, 7 whote-tones. Therefore the full 8 chromatic spans consist of 8 repeats of each of the 11 semi-tones.
100 Peggy Flanagan-Baird, “KEYBOARDS,” in 3 Palmieri, Encyclopedia of the Piano, 203.
101 2Peggy Flanagan-Baird , 259. Also see, 3Loesser. Men,Women and Pianos.407-409; and6Good, 176-177.
102Courtesy of Stephen Paulello email (19th June 2013) and Paul Corbin. Also see – Alexander Prince, “The Record of patent inventions, a monthly abstract of all specifications of patents of invention,” (U.K.: Oxford University 1842), 238- 241.
