In 1972, the first scientific study of the characteristics of pan was initiated at the University of the West Indies (UWI) at St. Augustine, Trinidad, by Ron Dennis, a lecturer in the Engineering Department. Dennis, who was from England, analyzed the behavior of pan notes in the laboratory and theorized that pans could be pressed (made concave) by the hydroform method. Initially, a small die was manufactured and tested on mini-pans, with research help from engineering student Clement Imbert. With funding from the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI ), construction of a larger press designed by Ron Dennis began at the UWI Engineering Department in 1974. Upon his graduation from UWI, Clement Imbert joined the CARIRI project team which included Richard McDavid as the Project Manager. The press was completed in 1975 and, after testing, was put into operation with the help of Caroni Limited who made their machine shop available for the project. Pans were pressed from 1975 to 1976 and were tuned by Bertie Marshall and Anthony Williams who reported their findings to the project team. The biggest problem observed by the tuners was the material distribution, i.e., the lack of a gradual reduction in thickness from the circumference to the center of the pressed surface. Improvements were made and, with the support of arranger Ray Holman, the first complete set of pans were used in the 1976 Panorama competition. Pressing ceased in mid-1977 when funding from the Government of Trinidad & Tobago was halted... Ron Emrit
The press did not disappear – the press was in Europe at the Saab plant; there never was a local one. This was in the early 80’s/late 70’s as well and the project was conducted at CARIRI and included Richard McDavid (on this project) as well as Keith Maynard and Clement Imbert - all of whom have been involved in this project in one way or the other. We actually have two of the pressed samples (one mysteriously turned up after missing for all those years). That project included the likes of Tony Williams and Bertie Marshall. Funding was stopped for reasons I have not been able to determine – this represents 30 years of lost opportunity... Dr, Brian Copland
Replies
All, this is a very interesting post. However, the CARIRI press was not the first as the US Navy and the US Navy Steel Band developed a press to do this very thing (press out steelpan blanks) I 1958-1959. They too, however, abandoned the project upon realizing that the pressed steelpans still needed to be counter sunk and fine-tuned. If anyone is interested, I discuss this and more in my forthcoming book on the US Navy Steel Band titled Steelpan Ambassadors: The US Navy Steel Band, 1957-1999 by Andrew Martin.
Mr. Martin;
Thank you for the information. Whose idea was it to launch this initiative? Do you by chance have the names of the designers of the Navy press? In addition do you have any pictures of the press or finished products made from the press that you can share with us? Lastly what exactly was the mindset behind developing a press in the US Navy?
bugs
Bugs, everything that's made from sheet metal is pressed, this is why it can be used for pan.
Nothing like INFORMATION!!!
Brian, the original press used by Ron Dennis and Clement Imbert was dismantled. I tried preserving it at Carmody Road but we were unable to re-assemble it. We identified the fluid-form press technology. I was responsible for that phase of the project in which a wooden die was made by an old die maker (I can't recall his name now, unfortunately) in Birmingham England. We then shipped this die to ASEA in Gothenberg Sweden (home of the first printing press) where several test pressings were performed and shipped back to T&T. The sinking of a pan took about 1 second to go from a flat sheet to a fully sunk and grooved tenor. The action was that of blowing a balloon. The next step was to find someone tune some of these instruments - brass, stainless steel, aluminium, etc.... I recall that Leon Thomas (Sean Thomas' dad, co-founder of Moods Steel Orchestra) tuned one of the samples but he told us he had to burn the instrument. This phase of the project was not well organised since we were operating without funds at this point. So much work is needed to really improve the mass production of this instrument to produce a more competitively priced product. There was a final contingent that included Richard McDavid, Bertie Marshall and others, I did not make that trip so I am not sure who were there, but that was where most of the samples were finally produced using the same wooden die. Unfortunately, Richard and Bertie are no longer with us but there may be a tri[ report at CARIRI.
Dr. Copland, Mr. Maynard
Why was the project stopped? Who stopped it? Can it be restarted and what would it take?
Given the current popularity and demand for steelpan instruments globally, is this a worthwhile investment in terms of potential patents.
bugs
bugs: The problem is not SINKING; the problem is the SHORTAGE OF TUNERS!!!
hmmmmmmmmmmm
Sinking is time-consuming getting away from it is a great help to tuners.
Cecil: This is a discussion from the EARLY SEVENTIES!!! Some guy from the WEST COAST (Pacific North West) solved that problem long time ago.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next