Square piano
It is variously attributed to Silbermann and Frederici and was improved by Petzold and Babcock. Built in quantity through the 1890s (in the United States), Steinway s celebrated iron framed over strung squares were more than two and a half times the size of Zumpe s wood framed instruments that were successful a century before.Their overwhelming popularity was due to inexpensive construction and price, with performance and sonority frequently restricted by single actions and double stringing. Square piano (though this example isn t exactly rectangular) Swedish painting of woman playing a square piano. English double action with check, ca.1830 (developed from Geib, 1786 American single action with overdamper, ca.1870 (developed from Petzold, 1809) Zumpe single action, 1766 Erard double pilot action, 1790 Zumpe s second action ca.1788 . The square piano is a piano that has horizontal strings arranged diagonally across the rectangular case above the hammers and with the keyboard set in the long side.
