All, This, from the other List: "1.From: Larry Lobel Posted: 2012/01/04 9:08:00 PM Subject: Extraordinary collection of piano technicians tools Message: Last night our chapter enjoyed an outstanding program given by longtime member Martin Shepherd, RPT. He has been collecting piano technicians tools for more than 30 years, which he's acquired from various sources -- retiring technicians, a piano factory that closed, estate sales, etc. Martin has a collection of hundreds of beautifully made vintage tools dating back to as early as the 1790s! All are in excellent condition or carefully restored by him, and he still uses the majority of them, matching tools of a particular period to instruments from the same era. He's done extensive research and become very knowledgeable about the history of the companies that made these tools, how now-obsolete tools were used, the development of particular genres of tools, and other fascinating and esoteric information. We were treated to an extraordinary display of dozens each of tuning hammers, voicing tools, tuning forks, regulating tools, planes, and bowsaws (do you know what they are? -- I didn't until last night). Martin described in careful detail the development of many of the tools, and how technological innovations (like the introduction of electricity, or the continually increasing tension of piano strings) affected tool design. He showed photocopies of pages from 19th century toolmakers' catalogs to help illustrate and explain the progression of tool design. Each tool was passed around the room so we got to see and handle them close-up. I will upload several photos I took of the collection to this discussion's library. For those interested in the subject, Martin has a beautifully designed website where many of the tools in his collection can be seen, along with scholarly essays he's written distilling his deep knowledge of the subject: http://www.mshepherdpiano.com/Martin_Shepherd_Piano_Service/Antique_Piano_To ols.html" ------------------------------------------- Larry Lobel RPT Petaluma, California First, because I'm not able to join the "new list", but do "lurk", I ran into this. I was totally blown away. Y'all have got to take the time to peruse this site! Martin Shephard is really "into" the tools and should be a Teacher of this subject at the national! I've spent most of the day, off and on inbetween work, checking this out. Wow! That's my take on that Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police (should be a private/corporal, after that!<G>) Squares R I
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