Smithsonian Institution The William Steinway Diary: 1861-1896
Steinway & Sons Records and Family Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Agraffes
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Agraffes are small pins that are used mainly in grand pianos but also in other models. They serve as guides for the strings at the tuning-pin end of the strings. The agraffes normally are screwed into the plate, and have one, two or three holes through which the strings pass. Each agraffe positions the string vertically and laterally, determines the string's speaking length, and offers a clean termination from which the string can vibrate. Agraffes are used in the bass, tenor, and lower treble, but commonly are replaced by a capo d'astro bar (small metal bar) in the upper treble.
Agraffes are usually made of solid brass, and come in 1, 2 or 3-string configurations. For American pianos they are available in two sizes (1/4" and 7/32" finely threaded studs). The string holes are typically countersunk to eliminate the likelihood of buzzing, even as the agraffes wear. They are installed with their width perpendicular to the strings.
William refers to agraffes in several dairy entries: (Diary 1876-4-9, 1876-4-30, 1878-10-16). These references to agraffes mention their presence in Steinway pianos but do not discuss details regarding their design or use. William also refers some times to capo d’astros and discusses how they relate to the use of agraffes.(Diary, 1877-11-15, 1878-3-17)
A search of all Steinway patents issued through April 4, 1885, when the last patent taken out by Theodore Steinway was issued, indicates that the following patents dealt with or mentioned agraffs or agraffes: 26,300; 126,848; 170,646; 204,109, and 230,354. The treatment of agraffes in these patents is described below.
* Patent 26,300, Pianoforte, November 29, 1859, by Henry Steinway, Jr. In this patent, Steinway notes that agraffs had been used in previous pianofortes for some longer strings, but had not been able to be used for treble strings. He further notes that his invention involves modifying the detailed design of how the agraffs are attached to the cast iron plate so that their use for treble strings is possible, thus providing a firmer bearing for these strings.
* Patent 126,848, Improvement in Duplex Agraffe Scales for Piano-Fortes, May 14, 1872, by Theodore Steinway. In this patent, Steinway describes the use of second agraffes on treble strings so that the short sections of the strings between the two agraffes are of lengths that result in the production of desirable overtones.
* Patent 170,646, Agraffes for Piano-Fortes, Nov. 30, 1875, by Theodore Steinway. In this patent, Steinway discusses the use of agraffes coupled with capo d’astros for tensioning strings. The patent notes that the agraffes hold the strings in the proper direction across the capo d’astros, and also result in the downward strain produced by the strings on the agraffes being counteracted by upward strain against the capo d’astros, so that the metal frame is not liable to being distorted by the strain of the strings.
* Patent 204,109, Piano-Forte Agraffe, May 21, 1878, by Theodore Steinway. In this patent, Steinway describes agraffes of a new design that simplifies fabrication of the agraffes and also simplifies their installation. The essential features are (1) use of agraffes with a square cross section that can be driven into a round hole, thus eliminating the need for use of threaded agraffes, and (2) preparation of the heads of the agraffes with notches for the strings, thus eliminating the need to drill holes in the agraffes and also eliminating the need to thread the strings through the holes.
* Patent 230,354, Upright Piano Forte, July 20, 1880, by Theodore Steinway. In this patent, Steinway describes a design change for upright pianos in which individual agraffes are replaced with agraffe-bars. The patent does not provide details regarding the design of the agraffe-bars.
Literature Related to Agraffes in Steinway Pianos
* Steinway literature in the 1877-1878 Lakeside Directory notes that agraffes used per Patent 26,300 of 1859 were applied to all of Steinway’s square and grand pianos.(2, p.1170) In this literature it was noted that the “full iron frame was cast with a projection which overlaps and abuts against the wrest-plank; and into this projection the agraffes (through which the strings pass) are screwed, producing an extremely clear and sympathetic tone, together with the greatest possible durability.”
* A description of how Steinway pianos were made in the 1990s (1) indicates that agraffes were still used. However, rather than being round screwed in pins as used in the 1860s, the then current agraffes were small metal plates with evenly spaced holes through which the strings pass at the keyboard end of the piano. For the treble strings a capo d’astro is used in lieu of agraffes.
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Sources:
1. Chapin, Miles and Rodica Prato. 88 Keys, the Making of a Steinway Piano, New York: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 1997.
2. Hutchinson, Thomas, Compiler. The Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago Embracing a Complete and General Directory, Chicago: Donnelly, Loyd and Company, 1877-1878.
