what is this?

[nagant27]

So I came across this :


The tuning table speaks for itself, but what about the extra long reed block thing on top of it? It was on top of the tuning table, and was wondering if anyone ever saw one before, and how it was used. Its a bout a yard long. Im guessing it was for tuning, but I really dont know. On the underside there is a pallet that can be opened and closed by the lever on the top of each reed, as shown in the picture. Looks really well made, and by hand so it took a lot of time I am sure to fabricate.

 

[xocd]

Looks like a reed bank for a pump-organ (aka. reed-organ).

 

[Waldo]

Looks to me like it's a tuning table whereby the reed to be tuned is compared to a "tone standard", generated from the reed selected on the reed block. The subject reed would be compared to the reference reed (via tremolo effect) and adjusted accordingly. System predating electronic methods.

Press on....
Waldo

 

[TomBR]

Like WaldoW said.
I believe it's called a provino

 

[nagant27]

Thank you, makes sense. Good to know. In the day tuning an accordion was a total different experience I imagine. Tuning forks, time, and a good ear!

 

[TomBR]

I guess the provino was tuned by reference to a tuning fork, or forks, by the same skills as used by a piano tuner.

 

[debra]

I guess the provino was tuned by reference to a tuning fork, or forks, by the same skills as used by a piano tuner.

Could be, but a skilled tuner only needs the tuning fork. You start by tuning the A (440Hz or whatever you want) and then you go from there with quints (making octave jumps to stay within the same octave), using a beating frequency (tremolo) of about 1.5 beats per second, to perform the well tempered tuning. Of course nowadays just using an app makes this a lot easier...

 

[Waldo]

Paul,
How does "Beats per Second" relate to tuning "Cents", number wise?

Waldo