Antique Lever

[rbeaton]

Joe & Penny
I have given this some thought
My bubble is in the middle and the snoose juice runs out of both corners of
my mouth at the same time...so I must be on the level.
Dick

----------
> From: Joe & Penny Goss <imatunr@primenet.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Antique Lever
> Date: Monday, July 20, 1998 6:02 PM
> 
> Hi, 
>  Would you consider donating the hammer to the PTG. It might be of
interest
> to them to have for display.
> Joe Goss 
> 
> You know your on the level if your bubble is in the middle.
> 
> ----------
> > From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net>
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: Antique Lever
> > Date: Monday, July 20, 1998 4:11 PM
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Tue, 14 Jul 1998, rbeaton wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi all...
> > > I have a double-headed..wooden handle..extension lever that was given
> to me
> > > years ago.  It is engraved "Made for AM Felt Co.  by J. Erlandsen 
New
> York
> > >  Ser #468.
> > > 
> > > Any ideas on what this thing is worth or anything else of interest?
> > > 
> > > Dick RPT Helena, MT
> > > 
> > 
> > Hi, Dick:
> > 
> > My advice would be to not yet give up your job as a piano tech in the
> > hopes that you could sell your antique tuning lever for a huge amount
> > of money and then retire in luxury for the rest of your life.
> > 
> > About thirty years ago, when on vacation, I bought an identical tuning
> > lever from an antique shop in upstate New York. It was part of a pack-
> > age deal. Also  included was a book--in excellent condition--entitled:
> > CLARK'S NEW METHOD FOR THE PIANOFORTE, which was dated 1876 and which
> > featured a picture of a woman in a dress with a bustle, seated at a
> > piano, illustrating proper posture and finger position. Throughout the
> > book an archaic, long-abandoned fingering is used, whereby the use of  

> > the thumb is indicated by the letter "X" and the rest of the fingers by
> > 1,2,3 and 4. The number "5" is not used. 
> > 
> > While the book may be considered "interesting", it is totally useless
> > as a teaching aid. Likewise, the old tuning lever with the double head
> > is merely a curiosity rather than a functional tool--unless, of course,
> > you routinely service pianos with oblong tuning pins, rusty strings,
> > broken action parts, ivory keytops worn down to the key sticks, and
> > great-looking rosewood cases. If so, don't forget that the extension
> > rod of the lever, which is secured by a wing nut, can be pulled WAY
OUT,
> > thereby allowing you easier access to the tuning pins, which, of
course,
> > are not in the front of the piano, but in the back (Don't hit your head
> > on the lid, but remember to always charge EXTRA if you choose to re-   

> > move it-- always a great way to boost your per-service-call income!).
> > 
> > Actually, come to think of it, if you are really into historical
tunings,
> > such an antiquated tuning lever may be just what you need. To complete
> > the picture you can grow yourself some muttonchop whiskers; stop
bathing;
> > wear the same unwashed clothes and same shoes all week long; forget
about
> > little things like using soap, toothpaste and a deodorant; make your
> > appointments in person because the telephone had not yet been invented
> > (The good thing is that afterwards the customer can't call you back to
> > complain about the quality of your work); and finally-- to complete
this
> > impressive picture of an "old-world" craftsman-- because the automobile
> > was as yet unknown, you can ride a horse to your tunings (don't forget
to
> > add a shovel to your tool kit for emergencies).  Wow, that ought to
> really
> > impress your customers, huh?! Maybe using that old tuning lever isn't
> > such a bad idea, after all.
> > 
> > Lastly, let's not forget value here. Thirty years ago I purchased the
> > useless tuning lever and equally-useless piano book for their full
anti-
> > que collector's value of five bucks. Given the outrageous rate of in-
> > flation since then, PLUS the great interest and activity in the col-
> > lectible's market right now, I can only assume that tthe two have
> > appreciated in value to the point where they are now worth at least a
> > full five bucks today. Possibly less.  Maybe WAY less. In other words,
> > they have performed something like a stock market investment recom-
> > mend by a unknown broker on a "cold call".
> > 
> > Les Smith
> > lessmith@buffnet.net  
> >