A regular meeting of the Long Island Nassau Chapter, PTG was held on May 10, 2011, at Frank and Camille’s Keyboard Center located on Old Country Road in Carle Place. Six chapter members and three guests attended.

President Slavin called the meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. The minutes for last month’s meeting were accepted by general consent.

Treasurer Paul Keogler, in addition to reporting on the balance sheet, stated that a chapter dues check had been received from the Home Office. The treasurer’s report was accepted by general consent.

• The June dinner meeting will be held at Bistro Citron on Old Northern Boulevard in Roslyn. The cost of the dinner is $48 per person, including tax and gratuity.
• The Home Office sent him two membership applications for chapter approval. One applicant, Richard Liptzin is unknown to anyone and has not attended any chapter meetings. It was agreed that President Slavin would contact Mr. Liptzin and interview him. The second application for membership is that of Valerie Sulzinski.
• Ruth Van Dyne sent a letter to the chapter announcing her candidacy for Northeast Regional Vice-President and asking for our support.
• President Slavin’s accountant will file the necessary paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service so that the chapter will be in compliance with IRS regulations.

Annual chapter elections were held. Current chapter officers were re-elected. The business meeting ended at 7:11 P.M.

Our guest speaker for the evening was David Kirkland, RPT. Mr. Kirkland works for Steinway & Sons. Mr. Kirkland introduced himself and discussed his background. He also mentioned that he worked with Roy Kehl over the past seven years doing research in the Steinway archives. The result of this research is a detailed history on the production of Steinway pianos over the life of the company, to be published in a book co-authored by Roy Kehl and scheduled for release later this year. Mr. Kirkland mentioned that Roy Kehl passed away on February 12, 2011.

The topic for Mr. Kirkland’s presentation centered on patents that were awarded to members of the Steinway family for various piano design changes that were incorporated into the production of the Steinway piano. Particular attention was given to the patents obtained from 1859 – 1876. Copies of some of these patents were displayed on his laptop computer while Mr. Kirkland discussed the importance of the engineering design and its contribution to the sound of the Steinway piano. Many of the patents were awarded to C. F. Theodore Steinway, whose association with physicist Hermann von Hemholtz may have influenced the development of these patents. Other members of the Steinway family who patented designs for the Steinway piano were William Steinway and Henry Steinway Jr. Some of the patents discussed were those for the cupola and double cupola plate, the over-strung bass, the iron case grand piano, capstan screws, and through-wire reinforcement for the hammers.

Mr. Kirkland also discussed the evolution of the Steinway & Sons trademark.

The meeting ended at 8:57 P.M. Mr. Kirkland was thanked for his informative presentation.