<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2600.0" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="MARGIN: 4px 4px 1px; FONT: 10pt Tahoma"> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">Richard-</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">No, neither of these is the Petrof system.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">The Petrof system works like a wippen assist spring.  One magnet is in the wippen rail, under the wippen body.  The other magnet is in the wippen body, in front of the wippen flange and above the rail magnet.  It lifts the wippen like a wippen assist spring, thereby reducing the need for weight in the key front.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">Because of the lead ban in Germany. Petrof is using this system to allow the use of brass weights in the key fronts.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">International Brokers is offering training and installation rights for the MBA.  The cost is very high, too high to be practical in any but the most luxurious action rebuild.   (Has anyone else noticed that the market for the most expensive pianos is not with musicians, schools and orchestras, but with people who have nothing better to do with their money than own the most expensive piano on the block?)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">Don't forget Richard Brekne's magnet system featured in the Journal about 2 years ago.  Richard has given his system to public domain, so the cost will be just magnets and technician labor!!!!!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif">Ed Sutton</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=RADKINS@coe.edu href="mailto:RADKINS@coe.edu">Richard Adkins</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 3/23/2005 11:00:11 AM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [CAUT] Re: magnets</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV>There are two magnet systems by the same inventor. The one</DIV> <DIV>you mentioned used in Petroff( evidenlty it is true) is at:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://home.hetnet.nl/~velo68/internlinks/MFRWEBVELOENG1ahtml.htm">http://home.hetnet.nl/~velo68/internlinks/MFRWEBVELOENG1ahtml.htm</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I've seen at the PTG conventions magnets used in upright action,</DIV> <DIV>and also, you might remember International Piano Brokers, who</DIV> <DIV>had the Fazioli booth.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> They sell an adjustable Magnetic Balanced Action from the same inventor.</DIV> <DIV>The magnets are in the keys, not the whippens, as you describe.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The NL site says it is available as a retrofit kit...I'd</DIV> <DIV>like to know if "we" technicians can install one or if</DIV> <DIV>we have to go to a specialist?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sofar I've not heard of anyone retrofitting either of these systems to Steinway Ds. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It would have to improve on the Stanwood touchweight system and be less costly to be</DIV> <DIV>viable, I think. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>see links for the MBA from the same inventor at:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://home.hetnet.nl/~velo68/internlinks/MBAWEBVeloeng2004-1htm.html">http://home.hetnet.nl/~velo68/internlinks/MBAWEBVeloeng2004-1htm.html</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.internationalbrokersinc.com/content.cfm?Page=Mba">http://www.internationalbrokersinc.com/content.cfm?Page=Mba</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Richard Adkins</DIV> <DIV>Coe College</DIV> <DIV>Cedar Rapids, IA </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>