<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="=
Bookman Old Style" LANG="0">In a message dated 10/15/2003 11:33:43 AM Paci=
fic Standard Time, amccoy@mail.ewu.edu writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT=
: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000"=
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="A=
rial" LANG="0">But how does one test for firmness in any<BR>
quantitative, definitive way?<BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3=
FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Bookman Old Style" LANG="0"><BR>
I'd say with side play. That's what Steinway is doing in addition to frictio=
n measurement: measuring the amount of deflection with a known amount of sid=
e pressure. Same objection - it only measures both sides at once, but it pro=
vides a go - no-go gauge.<BR>
<BR>
Bob Davis</FONT></HTML>