Split hammer shanks from an Ivers & Pond Upright, circa 1898. Note the shadow in the top picture and the paper arrow running through the shank in the bottom picture.
In the last couple of octaves, the shanks are cut with a slit in the center starting approximately 6-7 mm above the hammer butt and to within 5 mm of the hammer molding. I am not aware of the exact purpose of this seemingly time consuming effort, but I might take a couple of guesses. It made the shank quite flexible like a spring. It undoubtedly lightened the weight and I expect it to have an effect on the tone. I have not seen this on any other Ivers & Pond, or any other piano for that matter. I have seen treble shanks that are tapered on the sides, or half flat on the strike side. Makes you wonder about the imagination of these old builders. Amazingly, none of these shanks were broken. - Mark Ritchie
