[CAUT] downbearing gauge, homemade

[Fred Sturm]

Yes, don¹t make it for sale without investigating. I tried to buy a Lowell
gauge for several years running: back ordered and not filled. I finally
asked and was told it might not become available again. At which point I
decided to make one, or a reasonable facsimile thereof. If someone wanted to
challenge that patent, they might have a good case, based on its not having
been exercised. I understand that if you get a patent, but then fail to make
use of the item/process/whatever by manufacturing, making available to the
public, the patent lapses, loses force. Not something I care to find out
about, but if it isn¹t true, it ought to be.
    As long as I¹m opining on the subject of patents, I have to say I vastly
prefer the Spurlock approach: come up with a design, tell people about it,
then manufacture it at a reasonable price. The idea catches on better, and
you probably make more money in the long run. We are such a tiny market that
patenting something like Lowell¹s gauge is rather silly IMO. I have no
objection to somebody making some money on inventiveness, but a bit of
common sense doesn¹t hurt, either. BTW, I notice in the latest Pianotek
catalog that Lowell¹s gauge is listed ³call for price.²
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico


On 4/4/06 6:19 PM, "Don Mannino" <DMannino at kawaius.com> wrote:

> Might infringe on Tom Lowell's gauge, though.  I know he does have patents.
>  
> It's OK to make anything for one's personal use, of course!
>  
> Don
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fred
>> Sturm
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 5:10 PM
>> To: caut
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] downbearing gauge, homemade
>> 
>> On 4/3/06 6:20 PM, "Jeff Olson" <jlolson at cal.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> Wow, thanks, Fred.  Maybe I'm overly in touch with my feminine side, but I
>>> think it's downright cute.  The level on top is cool.  Think I might make me
>>> one (you didn't go and patent it, did you? :-)
>>> 
>>> Jeff
>>>> 
>> 
>> Hi Jeff,
>>     Nope, no patent. Open source code <g>. Any and everyone may feel free to
>> copy, improve, do whatever. That¹s why I posted it.
>> Regards,
>> Fred Sturm
>> University of New Mexico
>> 
> 


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