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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> As the (unofficial) =
spokesman
for the Wegman piano (they were made in our town), I'll try to =
answer your
question. The tuning pin system Wegman used consisted of a =
conventional
plate with carefully drilled holes that the very short, smooth =
tuning pins
would fit into. There was no pinblock, and the pins were a =
slip
fit. The pull of the string in one direction would =
create
enough friction on the pin so that it would stay in one =
place but
still be able to be rotated for tuning. There is some =
controversey
about whether the holes in the plate are oval or round, but either way, =
the pins
jam and remain in one place. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Tuning is done in =
the
conventional manner, changing strings is a bit tricky, but with a little =
practice is easy to master, as the tuning pin stays loose until there is =
tension
applied by the string as it is tightened up. The system seemed to =
be a
good one as pins never loosened, and I'm not sure why it has =
disappeared
from the piano industry. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Mike =
Kurta,
Auburn, NY </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Home of the Wegman
piano.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>