<!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 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; = BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none" bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks. It's been an evolution - = certainly no one intelligent created my system! My tool case has been evolving toward the = minimalist approach. Servicing pianos on the cruise ships has really = helped me trim my case down in size and weight. Basically I just carry two tuning = levers, my mutes, lid prop, flashlight, 4-way screwdriver, pliers, crescent = wrench, oh, and my reading glasses. Then a few other odds and ends tools revolve = through there - like I see my key easing pliers are in there now, and if you dug = below my mute bag you would find my upright let-off adjusting = tool.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If a client complains of a particular = problem with the piano at the time of scheduling, I will throw the likely needed tool = in my case that morning.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I find that the tools in my case are = all I need for 90&+ of me service calls. 98% of the time, my vehicle is right in = the driveway, so if I need a special tool, I just go out and get it. I = figure that trip outside to the car is a threshold for an added charge = when invoice prep time comes.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I keep my old Sanderson case (bigger) = in the car - it has all my regulating tools, voicing stuff, and a revolving = assortment of other tools - if I need it, I just carry it in also.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've even got my big-a$$-trunk Lincoln = up for sale - again, trying to scale down the stuff I bring to routine service = calls. With so much going on in my shop these days, I find that when I need a = certain tool unexpectedly on a service call it is often not in my trunk, but in my = shop anyway - so why try to bring the whole shop with me to every service = call. I guess I just figure that if their piano is that screwed up, I either pop = the action out and take it with me back to my shop, or reschedule for = another service call to fix their obviously unusual and complex piano trouble.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Just trying to keep it = simple!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>BTW: Just bought a new Toyota Prius - = first tank: 57 mpg - wahoooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last Sunday I did a couple service = calls - drove about 50 miles and managed to squeeze 72 mph out of it - the light = traffic allowed me to utilize driving techniques that maximize fuel mileage!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</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"><BR> </DIV> <P>Ah...I like the simplicity of your service kit...</P> <P>David Ilvedson, RPT<BR>Pacifica, = California</P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>