How piano wires have changed throughout history

While piano wire has changed over the centuries from iron to steel of varying qualities, researchers were surprised to find that the sound produced by the instruments’ wires has remained largely unchanged.

“I thought as the wire evolved — as the tension evolved — harmonicity would also change over time,” Purdue University physics professor Nicholas Giordano told Discovery News. “I was surprised to find all these makers held the same value of harmonicity (quality of sound).”

Marianne English, “How Piano Wires Changed Through Centuries”, Discovery News, 20 May 2011.  Click here to view entire article.

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