Report on Otoscope

[Richard Moody]

I had an opportunity  to examine a pin block with an otoscope. That
is the device a Dr. uses to look into your ear, and with an
attachment looks at the retina of your eyeball.
	I removed the tuning pin from a piano that I am considering treating
with Garfields tuning pin tightner. or tuning block restorer, which
ever it is called.  I borrowed an otoscope from the local DVM and
gazed into the hole.  The first impression I had was that I could see
into the hole without an instrument if only I had the proper light,
which the 'scope provided.  I also realized being near-sighted helps.
(I am near-sighted in one eye and far-sighted in the other.)
	I was surprised that I could not see the laninations looking into
the hole.  (Before I had pulled the top off to see if there were any
seperations.  There the lamanations there were clear with no
seperations.)   Looking into the hole I could not see the outlines
any laminatins.  It looked as if the pin block were one  log of white
cotton wood. I guess that the driving in of the pin fuzzed every
thing up. I was able to see a few chips left from the drill as the t
pin did not seem to go all the way to the bottom.
	Anyhow I was not able to see any sign of seperation of lamanations
from this inspection of one tuning pin hole.   (This was the upright
piano with the bottom row of tuning pins loose and the top two rows
tight) I chose the loosest and bottom most pin hole to look into.
	I am grateful for the suggestion(s) to inspect the tuning pin block
from the bottom, looking in from behind the piano where it joins the
back posts.  There I did not see any separations there. (even with a
redundency of inspectins in that area)
	So in regards to the usefulness of the otoscope, its not worth the
"about" $250 Dr. Naaz said it cost. IMHO  There is a magnifying glass
that is pocket size that has a light on it that costs less than $25.
That is what I would like to try next for tuning pin holes. I asked
at the local variety store, but the owner said he knew of them but
didn't know where to get them any more.  They were  popular among
stamp collectors and hortoculturalists. (and rock-n-roll roadies).  I
used to have one.  If anyone knows of these and where to get them,
please post.  They are great to examine piano parts such as bridge
pins, and broken strings (to see if there were rust spots) etc. and
should you want to, tuning pin holes, I am reasonably sure.
Richard Moody