<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Sarah,   The best way is to download a TIFF viewer add-in for your = browser.  The one I found to work best with the Patent office site is from <a href="http://www.alternatiff.com/">www.alternatiff.com</a>.  This = works very well with IE current version and it’s a free download.  = As you noticed, all of the older patents are available only in graphics file = format and are not text searchable.  Hopefully the Patent office will = rectify this eventually (not holding my breath) and make everything text = searchable.   My only confusion is the listing of “Frankel” as the inventor.  Was this an error or Dan’s real = name?   I did take a look at 1212304 and it looks like a really = complicated version of a Papp’s mute.   Allan Allan L. Gilreath, RPT   -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Sarah Fox Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 11:27 AM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: S&S D Duplex   > Don Rose posed some good questions. I would also be curious = about responses to those.   Yes, and I had already raised most of those questions myself in = the beginning... <sigh>   I was curious to read the patents to which Dan referred (126840 = and 5736660 ).  I found the following web site for the US = Patent Office:   http://www.uspto.gov   There is a search engine that quickly takes one to the relevant patents. The more modern patents (e.g. Dan's) have text content = online.  The older ones are graphic format only (i.e. graphics of both text = and drawings/photos).  Unfortunately I can't access the = QuickTime images with any of my computers, leading me to believe the problem is on the = end of the patent office.  Can anyone else access these = images?   Is there some alternate location where I can view these = patents?   I look forward to reading the text info on Dan's patent (sans illustrations) once I have a bit more time.   <soapbox> For all it's worth, I think it's sad the way some people are = going for Dan's throat.  (Of course I admit I don't know any of the history here.)  The major difference between Dan and the other RPTs on the list is = that he is selling a product to you RPTs, rather than to the end consumer, = just like the printing offices from which you buy your business = cards.  Any RPT who resents his commercialism should reflect hard on that = fact.  IMO, he's trying to make a living just like all of you, and there's = nothing wrong with that.  There's also nothing wrong with an RPT opting not to = buy his tools and to "do it yourself" -- or opt not to do it at = all.  As Dan said, there's always the time-honored hammer and screwdriver = method. </soapbox>   Peace, Sarah     _______________________________________________= pianotech list info: = https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </div> </body> </html>