[pianotech] Key leveling

[Tom Servinsky]

The Ludwig's I've worked on have had zero issues with touch weight issues. Nor have they had any problems with weakening of the key structure.
 My opinion... a brilliant and cost effective solution to the key leveling process.
Tom Servinsky

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: tnrwim at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 8:09 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Key leveling




But all in all, the idea should have taken off a long time ago. Why the 
manufactures never ran with this is beyond my reasoning. Maybe you could be 
messenger and get manufactures to take notice.
Tom ServinskyThe first reason that comes to mind as to why other manufacturers didn't adopt this system would be the cost factor. Although Ludwig was not a very expensive pianos, perhaps they were hoping to gain their fair share of the market. The other, as you pointed out, is that perhaps others saw the key ratio thing as a potential problem. But if I recall, the screw didn't do that. And last, although my customer's piano didn't seem to have any problems, could it be that the screw weakened the key enough to cause them to break with heavy playing?

  Wim 






  -----Original Message-----
  From: Tom Servinsky <tompiano at bellsouth.net>
  To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
  Sent: Tue, Nov 29, 2011 12:57 am
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Key leveling


I have several Ludwig grands with this same system. At one point when I was 
doing a lot of prep installations for David Steinbuhler, I had forwarded 
this idea to David  to incorporate this leveling system in his reduced 
keyboard actions. Due to the extreme flair in the key design in the  bass 
and treble, key leveling took on a much difficult process. Being able to 
level from a set screw made much more sense.
The one issue we discussed was where the screw bottom would actually make 
contact to the balance rail. The big challenge was not to interfere with the 
key ratio. A contact point on either side of the balance rail pin could 
create some touch weight issues.
But all in all, the idea should have taken off a long time ago. Why the 
manufactures never ran with this is beyond my reasoning. Maybe you could be 
messenger and get manufactures to take notice.
Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Stanwood" <stanwood at tiac.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 11:39 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Key leveling


> Hi Jack Et al,
>
> Have you or anyone else seen the key levelling system that utilizes a long 
> screw that goes down through the key button/key onto the back of the 
> balance rail punching?  Turning the screw in or out makes the key go up or 
> down.  I'd love to get a photograph of this for a class I'm developing: 
> "Off Center Balance Rail Bearings" for PTG Institute 2012 at Bellevue:
>
> Regards,
>
> David Stanwood
>
>>Hello to All,
>
>>     This leveling  system was produced by J.  French just
>>before P. A. Starch bought them in the late 50s. When
>>Starck was bought by J. P.Seeburg. in the mid 60s was
>>when this system went into production.
>
>>   It was indeed  presented  as the best leveling device
>>ever, by the  " Seeburg "  brochure.
>
>>   Its  weakness was that after you leveled  the key you
>>then you often had to adjust the  standard  capstan..
>
>>    At first I really liked the idea.  Then  actually using them
>>  was not so good.
>
>>    Of course the very best " leveling device" ever,
>>was in the  " Bowen Henderson" grand of Boston.
>>It was a dream  to work with.
>
>>    Regards,
>>   Jack Wyatt
>>   Dallas, Chapter
> 

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