Inertia, was "Grand Touch"

[Ron Nossaman]

> One indication of its performance is that Steinway had a patent on the
> accelerated action that covered the inertia issue and stressed the
> importance of having more lead closer to the balance rail.  However, now
> they don't seem to be actually placing their leads closer to the balance
> rail so I have to assume that they didn't think it really important from
> a practical standpoint.  

Surely they didn't actually test it years after the patent was 
issued and found it unnecessary. Wouldn't they have to file a 
patent retraction (an idea that's time has come)? Probably 
just saving lead. Then again, their practice of individual key 
leading with whatever the weights and friction levels of the 
action gave them, would be more easily and "accurately" done 
with smaller weights further out than with bigger weights 
grouped at the center. Now that I mention it, how does moving 
weights in toward the balance rail for better performance 
through inertia control reconcile with their custom of 
individually custom leading keys without regard to action 
friction levels? Doesn't really compute.
Ron N