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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My string height gauge has been the same one I
bought 30 something years ago, sorry no picture, this is a telescoping rod on a
base with a set screw. For the last several years I have laid the fixture down
on a piece of paper after setting it and pencil marked the extremities thus
showing a picture of string height. This then can easily be measured as well as
serve as a sort of picture of the piano when other measurements are marked out
such as center pin height which then shows hammer bore. Seeing the different end
of sections gives a picture of plate undulations, I still use the numbers but
I'm much better with a picture. It's very easy to take a old hammer and lay it
on the paper to see bore distance accuracy, or your new hammers can be very
easily marked for bore with no subtraction. But, I do like Jack Houweling's set
up, thanks Jack.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fenton</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=davidskolnik@optonline.net
href="mailto:davidskolnik@optonline.net">David Skolnik</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:11
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: String Height Gauge</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Jack -<BR>I respect and empathize with the impulse to use your
digital caliper for as many things as possible. For example, I've been
using mine in a system for key leveling which works quite well. There
are a few reasons why I might not be so comfortable with the application you
present, but, even apart from that, I'm having trouble understanding the set
up. Perhaps you could supply some additional pictures (which were quite
nice) showing the bass of the gauge from different angles. I'm not
understanding how you are establishing a zero setting from the keybed.
Also, I'm a bit uncomfortable bringing the end of the gauge in contact with
the bass string windings...maybe a non-issue. You have to be careful to
establish positive contact with the wire, given the narrow width of the
and then, if you're not taking the gauge out of the piano, you have to be bent
down to read it, Yes?<BR><BR>An alternate application for the same purpose as
the one you've proposed occurred to me. <BR>Fabricate or obtain a block
of a precise dimension (metric or english) - 5 or 6 inches, say. Take
the caliper and measure the diameter of the string whose height you wish to
measure. Zero the gauge. Place the block under the subject string, and,
with the butt end of the caliper resting on top of the string, extend the
depth rod downward to contact the surface of the block. Add the read out
to the block dimension and the result is your string height. I'll try it
out tomorrow to see if it really works. Of course, Pianotek's
digital tape (David I.) seems awfully convenient, if a bit heavy to carry
around, if memory serves.<BR><BR>and cheers to you<BR>David
Skolnik<BR>Hastings on Hudson, NY<BR><BR>At 10:05 PM 7/23/2008, you wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT size=2>Sorry I forgot to
put a Subjet /Title<BR></FONT> <BR> <BR><FONT size=2>Hello
All,<BR></FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>I wanted to measure string height so I
came up with a new gauge. It is very precise and also gives a reading<BR>of
the string level. The three measurements shown are of the same note. I
simply mounted my 4 inch caliper onto a base and I used a machine screw to
hold it secure. With a simple turn of the screw it can be taken
apart.<BR></FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>I can take an average or measure
individual strings. The digital readout is easy to record the distance and
move on to the next <BR>with out taking the gauge out of the
piano.<BR></FONT> <BR> <BR><FONT size=2>Cheers,<BR>Jack
Houweling<BR></FONT> <BR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>