Mahaffey lever

[Ken Burton]

            Fabrizio,

            This unusual tuning lever is designed so that the whole head and
tip can rotate 50 or 60 degrees with a solid stopping mechanism at both ends
of the rotation. The handle is often weighted.
            You use the lever by holding the handle at or near the head with
the handle pointing upwards (only useable on vertical pianos.) Then, by
twisting your wrist, you flip the handle left or right, causing it to bump
against the stops. These impacts cause the tuning pin to turn clockwise or
counter-clockwise.
            I have been asking for suggestions about using this type of
lever in fine tuning. However, I have not had many responses and my
impression is still that this lever is an unlikely prospect for fine tuning.
I am working on an electric impact tuning lever but the development process
is moving very slowly.
                        Ken Burton "Doctor Piano" Calgary Alberta
                                   kwburton@cadvision.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Fabrizio Santori <f.santori@fastnet.it>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Friday, January 22, 1999 2:39 AM
Subject: Mahaffe lever


>Hi,
>I am an italian piano tech. You have been talking about MAHAFFE LEVER, but
>probably becose my english it's not so good I didn't get what it realy is.
>Can anyone try to make me understand about it.
>
>Thank you
>
>Fabrizio Santori
>f.santori@fastnet.it
>
>