KURT SAPHIR PIANOS

It is not a rumor. Mason & Hamlin is alive and well and manufacturing one of the finest American hand crafted pianos. Chicago area customers can see the Mason & Hamlin grand pianos exclusively in the showrooms of Kurt Saphir Pianos.


Durability Mason & Hamlin is built to last, with solid posts and rim laminations that are 18-ply, over 4" thick. As a result of the strongest and most costly construction in the industry, the grand piano outweighs other makes by an average of at least 20%. The larger plate(for stability), larger sound board (for improved tone), extra layers of seasoned hardwoods in the rims (for strength) and heavier legs all combined to make a superb instrument.
Tension Resonator This exclusive device assures Mason & Hamlin owners original pure tone for the life of their piano. The patented Tension Resonator safeguards the crown of the soundboard for proper resonance. Radial arms of inflexible steel joined underneath the soundboard are bolted to the piano's inner rim (frame in the case of the Model 50). These metal rods are drawn to precise tension and locked into position by factory craftsmen, never again to be touched. By holding the rim in rigid position, thc Tension Resonator maintains the soundboard crown in its original shape-regardless of age or climatic conditions.
Duplex Scale In the treble, where the strings are shorter, the aliquots permit tuning of the "non-singing" portion of the string beyond the bridge in Mason & Hamlin's Grands. Hand-placed, the tiny bars for each pitch produce precise harmonics that enhance the treble. It is this precision, combined with longer string length between the bridge and hitch pins, that results in Mason & Hamlin's unmatched tonal warmth and depth throughout the treble register.
Action The Mason & Hamlin action is constructed of the finest hand-selected hardwood, assuring uniformity in over 7,000 working parts, including graduated hammer shanks and hand-shaped hammers for clarity of tone. Unique features include costly ebony sharps and repetition springs that can be easily and accurately adjusted. Designed specifically for use with the duplex scale, it provides the ultimate in repetition, speed, sensitivity, and response.
Rim & Case Mason & Hamlin forms the multi-ply hard rock maple inner and outer rims separately. With separate rims, easier access is attaincd for making adjustments in obtaining plate/bridge height relationship, a requisite for full, even tone. Mason & Hamlin adds the outer rim only after final adjustments of the tone-producing unit have been completed. Tuning Pins & Pinblock Nickel-plate pins prevent rust or corrosion on coils; blued steel cores grip the pinblock tightly. The hardwood maple pinblock is made of 7 layers of quarter-sawn maple, at a 90-degree grain angle on each layer. The wood has been treated to correct moisture content, whereby longlasting tuning stability is attained. Soundboard The soundboard is constructed of the finest grade, air-cured, kiln-conditioned white spruce. It is precisely installed by hand, with a tapered crown for optimum tonal resonance. The Tension Resonator helps maintain that crown for the life of the piano.