Key Leads and Inertia

[Bill Ballard]

At 11:03 AM +0200 6/14/03, Richard Brekne wrote:
>  > I don't know how to answer this. You might check with the "one" whom
>>  you quote as saying that "there is no significant difference between
>>  using springs, and using leads...."
>>
>
>I didnt quote anyone... you see any quote marks anywhere ?? I sure dont. I
>paraphrased one of the positions I see out there relating to the 
>ongoing arguement
>about assist springs.

It seemed clearly a position woefully uninformed, and I wasn't sure 
whose it was.

>I see folks on both sides of this fence employing less then
>purely factual  or rational reasonings. And it seems to me its been 
>going on for a
>long time.

I too think it's time to separate fact from factoid.

>I am not sure where you are trying to take this Bill. Are you trying to
>deny folks have been argueing about this ? or are you simply trying to put
>everyone whose preferences do not include the use of assist springs 
>in some kind
>of box... or what ?

I'd just like to begin listing the pros and cons. My own position is 
they do a great job of lowering BW without adding to FW. The decision 
as to whether they should be used to overcome a .58 KR (instead of 
directly correcting the KR) is matter between the pianist and his/her 
wallet. I'm with you and David Love in that I have no interest in 
SWs-on-steroids, and you won't find me using springs to 
counter-balance such SWs.

>I dont see they are necessary to
>achieve touch and repetition levels that are within (and beyond with regard to
>repetion) the levels pianists use for.

Agreed. If the SW and SWR is properly matched, a desirable BW can be 
achieved without driving FW out of bounds, without resorting to 
helpers.

>I said nothing about performance shortcomings.........

We are both paraphrasing the whispers from the great unwashed. Can 
someone on the list comment on the performance shortcomings of 
springs? Are these shortcomings a direct function of the amount of 
work the springs are doing?

>I did mention that in fact helper springs are largely ignored once
>installed, and when first somebody dinks around with them... they
>most often do indeed dink. This seems to applie to the new whippen
>as well.
>
>So if they are just going to sit there, or be misused, and arent
>neccessary in the first place... whats the point ?... to satisfy
>some engineer ????

Well if they've helped to provide the desired BW/FW combination, then 
it's understandable that they might be largely ignored once 
installed. The ability to try a number of BWs in short order is an 
interesting one, though.

>Along with adding that I thought the
>loading the key instead of the whippen might also be 
>significant...and I think I
>hinted a bit as to why without going into it too much. Seemed to me 
>like Davids
>post made some of that a bit more clear.

One thing I've understood from David's post is that, the key being 
larger than the wippen, it's easier to install a helper (magnets on 
the key, prongs on the wipp) at each end of the stroke. (Unless you 
include the rep spring pushing the rep lever against he drop screw.) 
But I'd like to know more about the fade in these magnets.

Regards,

Bill Ballard RPT
NH Chapter, P.T.G.

"Garth, Take me!"
"Where? I'm low on gas and you need a jacket"
     ...........Kim Bassinger and Dana Carvey in "Wayne's World 2"
+++++++++++++++++++++