They must be reselling these from China.

Post #439,867 by Andrew Grygus 9/16/21 2:50:18 AM 9/16/21 2:50:18 AM Reply	They must be reselling these from China. Chinese stuff always looks really good - but it often doesn't work. A low power fan needs a fuse "like a fish needs a bicycle". The Chinese are probably also selling these in Europe, where fuses may be required, and the voltage there is double, so the amperage is half. And yes, the creep. Not just voltage. In times past electric power was at 50 CPS (50Hz now), but the distribution equipment was getting old and couldn't meet the demand. The power companies moved to 60 CPS because the transformers could handle more power at the higher frequencies. That's why aircraft use 400 CPS so the transformers they need are much lighter. Also in music. A 400 has creeped up to A 440. Makes singing old stuff difficult at the high notes. Some people resisted this change. A relative described to me an elderly lady they knew who refused to buy a new clock, and adjusted her 50 cps clock twice a day.
Post #439,868 by drook 9/16/21 8:09:22 AM 9/16/21 8:09:22 AM Reply	I understand why the power freq shifted, but why music? -- Drew
Post #439,869 by Andrew Grygus 9/16/21 12:24:03 PM 9/16/21 12:24:03 PM Reply	But why music? Some orchestras liked to present a slightly sharper sound than others, and it just kept creeping up until 440 became the standard. One of the Russian orchestras, I think St. Petersberg, likes a different sound, and tunes a bit below 440.
Post #439,875 by malraux 9/16/21 7:53:52 PM 9/16/21 7:53:52 PM Reply	More on that https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/13/nyregion/as-pitch-in-opera-rises-so-does-debate.html Drive my son nuts, what with his perfect pitch. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #439,882 by drook 9/16/21 11:15:58 PM 9/16/21 11:15:58 PM Reply	Bah, paywall -- Drew
Post #439,884 by malraux 9/17/21 9:24:19 AM 9/17/21 9:24:19 AM Reply	Unrelated: It's amazing how quick the NY Times site is with JavaScript turned off. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #439,886 by drook 9/17/21 12:02:33 PM 9/17/21 12:02:33 PM Reply	OK, now that I've read it ... Pieces were written based on what the human performers could physically handle. (Speaking of opera here, orchestral is a somewhat different issue.) Unless human anatomy has significantly changed in the last 2-3 centuries, I don't imagine people's vocal chords are yet capable of significantly higher ranges. And more "brilliance" and "excitement" ... Maybe the piece isn't intended to be that brilliant and exciting, else it would have been written in a higher key. -- Drew
Post #439,890 by CRConrad 9/17/21 4:11:47 PM 9/17/21 4:11:47 PM Reply	Does singing develop like sports? Athletes regularly do stuff thought impossible a few decades ago.
Post #439,891 by drook 9/17/21 4:49:47 PM 9/17/21 4:49:47 PM Reply	Thought about that, but I don't think so Pitch and resonance are related to the physical volume of the anatomy. Unless skulls and chests and throats have changed, I don't see why natural ranges would change. -- Drew
Post #439,893 by CRConrad 9/18/21 9:13:00 AM 9/18/21 9:13:00 AM Reply	Just like running speed and jump height/length are related to bone and muscle...
Post #439,894 by drook 9/18/21 9:41:13 AM 9/18/21 9:41:13 AM Reply	But we've gotten taller, which would make natural ranges lower not higher -- Drew
Post #439,892 by Andrew Grygus 9/17/21 11:21:51 PM 9/17/21 11:21:51 PM Reply	A strange recording . . . Some years ago I bought a recording of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffman" (Tales of Hoffman), which turned out to be very strange indeed. It was recorded in Argentina, by an orchestra I'd never heard of. In fact, the only name I recognized was Peter Maag, the once famous conductor who suddenly disappeared, and was found years later in a Buddhist monastery near Hong Kong. The orchestra sounds like something off old 78s. There's a whole lot of stage noise, but the voices are recorded very well. For a critical part, the wind-up singing doll, they hired an aging soprano just a few months from retirement. Could she still sing the part? She brought down the house. That was Mady Mesplé, who's specialty was a very strong voice in registers other sopranos couldn't even get to. She died last year at 89. That's the way to end your career all right. "Gather round girls, and listen to what you will never be able to do."
Post #439,885 by CRConrad 9/17/21 9:37:09 AM 9/17/21 9:37:09 AM Reply	archive.is.your.friend Heh, anyone remember the old "GIYF" acronym...? :-( Anyhoo, as I was saying: https://archive.is/SkvPI -- Christian R. Conrad The Man Who Apparently Still Knows Fucking Everything Mail: Same username as at the top left of this post, at iki.fi
Post #439,876 by scoenye 9/16/21 8:00:54 PM 9/16/21 8:00:54 PM Reply	I think it is a UK thing only https://www2.theiet.org/forums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=205&threadid=35752 They appear to supply the entire house from a single circuit requiring lower rated fuses on each appliance. AFAIK, no one on the Continent does it that way (although I'm not going to stick my hand in the fire as to what is possible in the former Comecon parts...)

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