<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4522.1800" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2>I sent this out last night but didn't get it back = this morning.  Didn't get anything this morning.  I was supposed to = reconfigure my computer per instructions from ATT but must not have done = it right.  I may have lost all my e-mail for a few hours.  It did = not appear on the archives, so I'll send it again.  Sorry if it is a duplicate.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=cmpiano@home.com href="mailto:cmpiano@home.com">Meyer Carl</A> = </DIV> <DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, January 31, 2001 10:14 PM</DIV> <DIV><B>Subject:</B> Key leveling for dummies</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I've just been nominated as the secretary of key leveling.  Haven't been confirmed yet, but I must tell you that the = written questions could be construed as the  politics of personal destruction.  No! I don't hire illegals to do my key = leveling.  It might be a good idea, though.  I could always count on a pardon if = I can get the right attorney.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I'm a devout divider, not a uniter, so it is no = surprise that I might disagree.  Just joking , of course.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Yes, I market a key leveling system, not really a device.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I've given several local technicals about key = leveling and I always wait for the question or comment  " S &S crowns their = keys by 1/16 so your system won't work"  Here's my scripted response.  = "Steinway seems to think that since the center is played more that after = awhile the keys will be level.  That sounds impressive at first, but after = giving it some thought </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>You realize that misadjusting something hoping = that wear will correct it is wishful thinking.  I've concluded that it's = really a dumb thing to do.  However if you think Steinway knows more about = it than I do, what can I say?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>That was before I knew why they do that.  I had = a long discussion with Kevin Stock of s&s and he explained that they crown = the keybed by maybe 1/16 or so (not really a fixed amount).  Then the = keyframe is reverse crowned a similar amount, so that when the action is clamped = with the cheek blocks there will be a spring loaded contact between the two for = reliable key bedding.  That is the only reason for the crown.  I still = think it is a dumb idea.  Maybe that's one of the bright ideas that causes = the Steinways to bring prices three times what other quality pianos = do.  No other pianos that I know of use that feature.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Now if you can visualize what we have here, If you = clamp the Steinway action to a flat table and level the keys anyway you like, when = you put it in the piano and TaDa!! it has the same crown as the keybed automatically.  Yes I'll admit you may have to touch up the level = after it's in the piano, but it's less work than if you weren't close to start = with.  Really now, isn't it a little silly to crown both = surfaces when just the key frame would have done the job?  Gotta justify that = extra cost you know. Advertising has to finesse the uninformed = somehow.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I'll tell you a little about my system.  First, = I've heard every idea in the book about how to prop up the end keys.  = None of them work.  They may be fool proof, but fools are so ingenious your = mileage may vary.  I bore a hole just in front of the green punching of = note 1 and 88 with a no. 18 drill and screw in a capstan.  This will adjust = the reference and won't move.  The straight edge is a 48 inch aluminum = scale. (Sorry Tom Cole , its not steel)  I cut 1/4 inch off each end since = some keyboards are less than 48 inches. Some are almost 49.  Slots in = the end of the straight edge allow you to adjust the end blocks to fit. A double = sticky block of wood is put on the end keys to position the bar over the front = rail pins. This insures the position is repeatable.  Since all pianos = are different leveling is done by eyeball.  Then dip is set by using a = tapered wedge calibrated at 3/8 inch for "zero" with ten thousands inch = graduations plus or minus.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>The bar can then be turned end for end and  = used for leveling and dip setting for the sharps.  It will automatically be = 1/2 inch higher.  Reset the reference if you don't like 1/2 = inch.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I made a 45 min video of the key leveling procedure, = but since I'm such a bad actor and it shows my bald spot so clearly, I only = provide it with the kit.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>For those interested in the = development:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>About 20-25 years ago when I started to ""Mess = around with pianos""  I thought key leveling was the dumbest, most boring job I = could think of and I got carried away spending al least a week trying to come up with a better way.  I used the prototype for about 15 yrs.  and finally refined the design and took it to a So. = Calif. convention.  I'd decided if I sold 5 I would be = encouraged.  All day Friday I sold a couple of screwdrivers.  All day sat I sold a = couple more screwdrivers.  Sunday morning I sold "5".</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I've now sold about 50 of them.  Still not = rich, so I've lost my enthusiasm for the marketing part. I still love to make = tools.  I gave a class on "Make your own tools" at the 2000 Ca. conv.  I = showed slides for 1 and 1/2 hrs about tools and gadgets I've made and used for = years that I have no desire to market.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I've considered making it into a video tape.  I = might just do it if there is enough interest.  Everytime I get the urge = to do a good deed, though, I take a nap till the urge passes.  I always = remember what Marsha Warfield</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>said " I used to be a virgin till I found out there = was no money in it".</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Happy key leveling.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Carl Meyer</FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>  </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>