<html> <body> Dale, Watanabe and Itoshin are the two suppliers, and most of the tools which we have seen called "Yamaha" tools here in the US are simply tools from these suppliers, sold by Yamaha. The yen usually runs 105 to the dollar these days.  This shows a rather weak US dollar right now - the yen is often over 120:1. Don Mannino RPT At 08:38 AM 1/9/2005, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">In a message dated 1/9/2005 4:39:46 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no writes:   Ric   I was just strolling thru the Watanabe site. Looks like the tools commonly called Yamaha tools /parts to me. Does any on know how to convert Yen to US dollars. ie. What is 100 yen worth?  I'll probably order some stuff if the price is right.   Dale <dl> <dd>Dean May wrote: <dd>>Tell us Richard, you have the Japanese connections, can we buy directly from <dd>>Japan? <dd>> <dd>>Dean <dd>> <dd>>  <dd>> <dd>I doubt it. But there are two Japanese suppliers in Hamamatsu and they <dd>sell a good deal of supplies made by Yamaha. I posted a link to Watanabe <dd>just the other day.  I forget the name of the other supplier, but it the <dd>larger supply house..... and a bit more pricy. <dd>Personally, I dont really see the problem. There are plenty enough <dd>alternative parts suppliers out there, and more then one source is for <dd>high quality stuff that is compatble in every sense of the word with <dd>just about every piano.  In anycase... what differences there are do not <dd>strike me as worth loosing even an eyeblink of sleep about. <dd>Cheers <dd>RicB </dl> </blockquote></body> </html>