Oliver Esmonde-White founded Piano Esmonde White in 1996.
Posted at 8:00 a.m.
Which
The company offers rental services, tuning, storage, sale and transportation of pianos, among others. The Esmonde White team has also been putting all its energy into research and development for several years.
The product
Piano Esmonde White has created a mechanism that allows upright pianos to acquire the same properties as a grand piano, regardless of their brand, price and age. We think in particular of pianists who live in restricted spaces or who do not want to part with their precious instrument. Oliver Esmonde-White thus made the initial mechanism of pianist, engineer and technician Darrell Fandrich (Fandrich Vertical Action – vertical action), created in the 1980s, easier to manipulate. The new product, EW Vertical Action, is more easily adjustable. “Fandrich encouraged me to develop his technology,” says Oliver Esmonde-White. I made it a mission. Before, it took three or four weeks to do the conversions. It was an unpleasant activity. Now three to five days…and that’s nice. »
innovation
Oliver Esmonde-White’s team has been working on this technology for two years. Notice to readers, very technical information ahead. The company has created a modular block that adjusts with a screwdriver. To transform the keys and the sound of the piano, modular blocks are placed between the dampers and the hammer handles. “It’s so simple that you can adjust it yourself,” says Oliver Esmonde-White. It has become child’s play. Simplicity is added to the original mechanism. This innovation makes the upright piano 250% more efficient. All colors fit. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Mockups of different piano key mechanisms
“There is a gradation in the key,” notes pianist and teacher Tristan Lauber, who came to try out an Esmonde White piano fitted with the mechanism, during the interview with The Press. “The speed of action is very pleasant. »
The patent application was filed on August 5, 2021. “We’re going to file more improvements in June 2022,” says Oliver Esmonde-White, who has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in research and development so far for this innovation. Conversion cost: from $3500 to $5000.
The future
Oliver Esmonde-White and his wife-co-owner, Lorraine Desjardins, were supposed to present their innovation at the International Piano Convention: Piano On, in France, last week, but it was canceled due to the pandemic. “We still have development to do,” says Oliver Esmonde-White. We are also working on an educational component with the National Research Council Canada. [CNRC] and universities for mechanism and the effect of mechanism on sound. We have research to do in ergonomics with the University of Montreal. »
“The potential is enormous, adds Mr. Esmonde-White, because 85% of the pianos sold are upright. Two million existing pianos on the planet have the profile for this mechanism. The ball of seduction has begun. We started selling the mechanism to the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Arts of Quebec in particular. We already have an order book. »
There is also a whole educational component to be developed for the technicians who will have to install the device. As such, the training should be ready in three months. “Eventually, we plan to provide technicians with an information kit, tools, parts and a workbench to be able to do the installation,” says Oliver Esmonde-White. This will be a new source of income for technicians. »