<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Apr 5, 2006, at 9:25 PM, Fred Sturm wrote:</DIV><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; ">Yes, don’t 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. <BR></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I remember a discussion on PTx about a year and a half ago on the fate of the Lowell DB gauge. Someone who knew him checked to see what his plans were and reported back that while active production of the unit (mainly contracting with the plastics molding company for the bodies) had lapsed because a particular stretch in his life didn't have room for this sideline, he was now (then) ready to start thinking about resuming. Based on pent-up consumer demand.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Also discuss was the business of "prior art", IOW how closely his resembled what Baldwin was using in the factory and was issuing for techs restringing accu-just hitchpin pianos. I think Del Fandrich said that Baldwin turn a blind eye when Lowell applied for his patent.</DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><FONT face="Verdana"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; ">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 isn’t true, it ought to be.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE><BR></DIV><DIV>The business of prior art (which might come up in a patent infringement suit against someone producing and marketing a similar device) could be the basis on which the coma-hold he now has on this item gets broken. Baldwin wasn't interested fifteen years ago. Gibson might now be. Then again, Tom Lowell himself might be edging closer to reviving production (a year and a half later).</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>There's definitely pent-up demand.</DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>william ballard</DIV><DIV><A href="mailto:wbps@vermontel.net">wbps@vermontel.net</A></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">"All men are dogs. Some just make better pets".</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> ...........Recently seen on a back bumper</DIV><DIV style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">+++++++++++++++++++++</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>