We've been framed! (by a piano frame) | Cunningham Piano Co.

The piano frame is the heaviest part of the piano, weighing in at around 450 pounds for a grand piano, providing the main tensile strength for modern instruments. Cast iron frames have been used in piano designs since the 1870’s. Prior to cast iron frames, pianos frames were made entirely of wood. But as composers wrote pieces that demanded more notes and a wider dynamic range, the wooden frames had a tendency to buckle and warp under the tremendous stresses from the stretched strings. Modern piano strings can exert 18-20 tons of pressure! To learn more, visit our website at www.cunninghamp...

[@jamieredden554]

Fascinating

[@ms.girlklesia5923]

Well some pianos had cast iron frames in the 1820s they were made by Alpheus Babcock and were patented in 1825 and then refilled in 1833.

[@CunninghamPiano]

You are absolutely right Klesi. Babcock used what could technically be called a one piece frame in a square piano, but in today's vernacular it was only a partial frame. He was also the first to introduce the concept of cross stringing in the United States. In modern style grand pianos we feel that the credit for a cast iron frame should go to Jonas Chickering - and cross stringing should go to Henri Pape. Thank you so much for your post!

[@RoverWaters]

200kg