<html> <body> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">ne he had better things to do with his time and money!  Even the Schwander B action which dominated the market till the mid 1980's ( Bechstein, Bösendorfer, Kawai etc. etc.) was never patented so far as I can tell.  It would be interesting to know why all the makers suddenly switched back to the old Herz design within a space of a couple of years -- or does Bösendorfer still fit the Schwander? <div align="center"> <img src="cid:6.2.0.14.2.20060913195746.02cb15f8@mail.sasktel.net.1" width=301 height=188 alt="[]"> </blockquote></div> Hi JD,             Talking to Renner, they mentioned that they no longer made the Schwander design.  It seems ever one want's to "copy" Steinway's Butterfly rep spring. Personally I prefer the Schwander, because of the control of sliding friction, and consistent rep spring tension. New Bechstein's and one new Bossendorfer that I have worked on, had Butterfly springs. I think it is a question of economics, vs numbers ordered.  They will make the Schwander style action if the numbers are right. Regards Roger</body> </html>