The action
The piano's heart
The mechanisms in pianoforte instruments are masterpieces of precision and reliability. The final details have been optimized over generations from the piano craftsmen in Germany. The interaction of thousands of different parts make the hammer mechanisms the heart of the instrument, a perfect functioning striking mechanism which follows the player’s intention.
Lever elements made of hard woods such as white birch or maple convey even the slightest movement of the key to the hammer heads, thanks to their refined alignment. Each individual wooden element is made with great precision, many of which are accurate up to +/- 1/00 mm. Elements made of metal, including precision pivots for the axes, numerous springs with special curves, wires and screws of all kinds are uncompromising parts of the musical mechanism.
Felt and leather materials from sought locations care for the noise free movement of the lever system, for the transfer of the strike energy from the hammer heads on the strings, for the damping of the vibrating string, and much more.
Action Assembly of an upright piano
The keyboard and action assembly in an upright piano is vertically arranged. The hammer heads acts like standing pendulums. Differing to the grand piano keyboard/ action assembly, a reduced part of the weight of the hammer heads react upon the keys through the level system of the mechanism. For this reason, the balancing weights are located in the rear part of the key leverage. This secures a balanced and dynamic touch weight.
Assembly in detail
Action Assembly of a grand piano
The grand piano keyboard and action assembly has the weight of the hammer heads over the lever system of the action which affect the back part of the keys. The balancing weights (13) are accordingly located in the front area of the lever of the keys giving a balanced and dynamic touch weight.
Assembly in detail