<HTML>Hi All- This discussion made me remember what I had written a few years ago. This is= a post from rec.music.makers.piano from August 16, 1998, that I wrote in th= e middle of the night.  Amusing, at least. Lisa >Well my wife would like = narrower keys, I need more room between the sharps.>Variable key width?<B= R> A variable width keyboard co= uld be worked out.....Imagine an upright piano...grands have added obstacles= to design around. You could have two versions.  A keyboard built for l= arger hands which expands and extends beyond the case of the piano or a keyb= oard that starts at normal width and shrinks (keys cut narrower to accommoda= te). With a seriously modified keybed, the keys would be attached to a series of = spreaders, like a continuing scissor mechanism (Spanner?  Can't remembe= r the word for this mechanism -- think Hoberman) which would move the keys a= part, expanding or shrinking the keyboard to the pianist's preference. It wo= uld move on a wormgear with a knob for the pianist to turn.  I imagine = people with large fingers could tolerate up to a quarter inch space between = the keys. Using my 1896 Steinway upright as an example, the white keys are 7/8" wide. = The spaces between the keys are 1/16".  If the spaces were expanded to = 1/4", it would expand the whole keyboard by 12 9/16".  The sides of the= piano surrounding the keybed would have to be separate pieces attached to t= he keybed, so they could extend out from the sides of the case (maybe with a= bellows looking fabric filling in the space or thin wood that rides in slot= s, veneered and finished like the case). To make the keys 'bend,' you could hinge them (a finger joint that is hinged= after the balance rail).  The point where the capstan touches the wipp= en cloth would have to be a more firm joint, maybe like some of those old up= rights that had cup shaped capstans where the stickers fit into them.  = Also, to make up for the necessary added length, a universal joint instead o= f the regular sticker flange would be necessary.  For the farthest out = keys ... well, some of them just may have to become useless in the expanded = position or some adjustments would have to be done by the pianist.  Or = ... how about spring loaded key extensions to still reach the wippens? = That means a stopper at the back of the keybed which would create unwanted = friction ... oh well.   Another wall.  Not bad for a 3 A.M. whim, huh? Lisa Weller RPT </HTML>