<!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 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Joe G and List</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes, I agree the concept was good. It = was too advanced for the materials at hand. The thing that really let it down = was the early plastic. If it were being built <EM>now</EM> they would have used = a more durable plastic. I too had one and did the same as you - got a standard = keyboard made for it. The amazing thing was those "R" shaped = push-into-the-extruded frame type flanges about which the entire design concept revolved. The odd = thing was that you could release and drop the key-board - like a "ships' piano". = There was also the thought that went into the design of the levers. I think they = used tin-snips to separate the check block arm from the strap arm. Straps? = Bridle straps were nylon cord fused into a plastic cap to attach to that strap = arm. Again, quite amazing! The tone was quite good though, wasn't it? Amazing.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G.(UK)</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 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=joegarrett@earthlink.net = href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk href="mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk">Michael Gamble</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 12, 2005 = 3:32 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Magnets - was = Springs vs lead</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I know, I own one! :-( In the past I = made a set of standard keys for one. Worked out very well. However, it was one of = the earlier versions, so the action wasn't completely screwed up. On mine, = I'll have to replace the action as well. One of those "roundtoit" thingees.<G> It has a lovely case w/matching stool. = </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I believe the concept was good, just = the execution was poor.<G> Ah.....one of these days.........<G></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 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=michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk href="mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk">Michael Gamble</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</A> ; <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 12, 2005 = 4:21 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Magnets - was = Springs vs lead</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Joe</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Making the frame of welded tubular = steel, action out of alloy, the hammers out of plastic and the keys of = plastic also, but with clock springs to return them? Sorry, that's already = been done .... in Ireland. I cite: Lindtner of Shannon. When that firm went = into liquidation I believe they paid off the work-force with pianos...:-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G.(UK)</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 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=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe Garrett</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, May 11, = 2005 11:16 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Magnets - was = Springs vs lead</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Michael From The Island said: = "<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I like it! Magnetic forces - = what are the downsides?<FONT face=Arial size=2>"</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The only one that comes to mind, = is that magnets lose their properties/strength with time.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As for the lead thingee: you'd = have to put one helluvalotof lead into the system to mimic the effect of a = spring, which is what pianists are used to. Perhaps making the entire = system out of iron or steel would come close. But, still not the same sensory = for the pianist. Also more propensity for noise. :-(</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just my inflated $ = worth.<G></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, = Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>