[pianotech] Sustaini Pedal Adaptor

[Michiel van Loon]

Larry,
I am only acquainted with PianoDisc system and can work with it quite 
well. But I knowledge of electronics is very basic. I have made serveral 
kinds of human interfaces for the Pedal Adaptor. Twice a a pipette 
operation  a pressure sensitive switch (http://bit.ly/l6zbG) , once a 
elbow operated switch 
(http://www.pianoman.nl/piano/pedaladapter/aanpassing8.htm) and once a 
knee operated switch.
I would like to learn more about other systems.

Vriendelijk groeten,
Michiel van Loon



Larry Fisher RPT schreef:
> I've made two of these in my career.  One was in Rawlins, WY and the 
> other in Lake Osweo, OR.  ........    a suburb of Portland.  I had to 
> make the power supply for the Pianocorder solenoid in Wyoming (many 
> years ago) and the other was the PianoDisc power supply, pedal control 
> circuit board and solenoid.  In both cases I used the mercury switch 
> found in a silent light switch.  They don't make them that way anymore 
> but any organ tech that has some junk laying around might have one 
> from a Lowrey organ.  HP made a thermostat that had them in it as 
> well.  Most older thermostats probably have one.
>  
> The pedal control circuit board is no longer made.  The circuit I made 
> in Wyoming was crude but effective.  A huge capacitor was needed to 
> overcome inertia.  It gave the solenoid the kick it needed to get 
> moving. 
>  
> I mounted the switch on a plastic hair band wrapped with yarn to hold 
> it in place.  The wires had a disconnect at the piano's keybed.  In 
> both cases the piano player was unable to bodily control anything from 
> about mid-chest on down.  They both adapted to the device quite 
> readily.  Tipping the head to activate the pedal became a natural 
> looking movement for the last one in just a matter of a minute or so 
> of play.
>  
> The solenoid was mounted very much like a PianoDisc installation only 
> I added a bar of metal to extend the existing pedal mechanism on the 
> piano. 
>  
> I have a few pix of this to share for those who wish to see.  My 
> website is under destruction at the moment so I guess email is the 
> best way to handle this.
>  
> Larry Fisher RPT
>  
>