Antique Lever

[R. Goodale]

LOL!!!  Excellent thoughts here!!!



> While the book may be considered "interesting", it is totally useless
> as a teaching aid. Likewise, the old tuning lever with the double head
> is merely a curiosity rather than a functional tool--unless, of course,
> you routinely service pianos with oblong tuning pins, rusty strings,
> broken action parts, ivory keytops worn down to the key sticks, and
> great-looking rosewood cases. If so, don't forget that the extension
> rod of the lever, which is secured by a wing nut, can be pulled WAY OUT,
> thereby allowing you easier access to the tuning pins, which, of course,
> are not in the front of the piano, but in the back (Don't hit your head
> on the lid, but remember to always charge EXTRA if you choose to re-
> move it-- always a great way to boost your per-service-call income!).
> 
> Actually, come to think of it, if you are really into historical tunings,
> such an antiquated tuning lever may be just what you need. To complete
> the picture you can grow yourself some muttonchop whiskers; stop bathing;
> wear the same unwashed clothes and same shoes all week long; forget about
> little things like using soap, toothpaste and a deodorant; make your
> appointments in person because the telephone had not yet been invented
> (The good thing is that afterwards the customer can't call you back to
> complain about the quality of your work); and finally-- to complete this
> impressive picture of an "old-world" craftsman-- because the automobile
> was as yet unknown, you can ride a horse to your tunings (don't forget to
> add a shovel to your tool kit for emergencies).  Wow, that ought to really
> impress your customers, huh?! Maybe using that old tuning lever isn't
> such a bad idea, after all.
> 
> Lastly, let's not forget value here. Thirty years ago I purchased the
> useless tuning lever and equally-useless piano book for their full anti-
> que collector's value of five bucks. Given the outrageous rate of in-
> flation since then, PLUS the great interest and activity in the col-
> lectible's market right now, I can only assume that tthe two have
> appreciated in value to the point where they are now worth at least a
> full five bucks today. Possibly less.  Maybe WAY less. In other words,
> they have performed something like a stock market investment recom-
> mend by a unknown broker on a "cold call".
> 
> Les Smith
> lessmith@buffnet.net