Wapin Bridge

[Farrell]

I come from the environmental cleanup industry where new technology abounds.
Often however, a new technology is offered by a company that has patented
it, and unless you hire them to do the work, you do not use the technology.
This Wapin appears similar, although here it appears you pay a fee, but you
still do the work.

One of the things I have found so wonderful about the piano industry and PTG
meetings and conferences is that generally there is abundant willingness to
share information. In KC last year I specifically made a point to tell David
Hughes & wife how refreshing it was for people with their knowledge &
experience to share with others very technical aspects about how they build
boards, bridges, etc. (especially having come from an industry that does not
tend to share).

I do not know what went into developing the Wapin idea. I realize that when
one invents something truely unique and beneficial at great expence, there
should be some way to make a reasonable profit from it (I guess turning out
the best sounding instruments in southern Ohio does not suffice?). But
this.... I've got a secret and I'm not going to tell unless you sign here
and pay me.... seems at best to be perhaps a proper business agreement, but
oh, so cold, and at worst...... well I'm sure many will be able to supply
their own favorite term.

Maybe it is the way any industry is. Maybe this is just a dark spot in my
honeymoon with piano technology. I had been so happy to get away from the
crap spewing forth from the environmental industry (so many claims, and so
little explanation/proof). Any thoughts? (Flame suit tightly buttoned &
zipped!)

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Brekne" <richardb@c2i.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 3:30 AM
Subject: Re: Wapin Bridge


> Really... this kind of "holding back" irritates the bishavies out of me.
Ok I
> understand patent costs etc... but in the end the protectionism simply
keeps
> interested in the dark and keeps them sitting on the bench. And in the end
> abolutly everything you are trying to protect will come out anyways.. Much
> better to just engage the technical community right off and get if over
with.
> You will probably sell many more units that way in the end anyways.
>
> my view
>
> Bill Springer wrote:
>
> > Hi Clark,
> >
> > I wish I could discuss more of the details of how Wapin works, but due
to a
> > disclosure type of  agreement I am unable to. The best way to understand
> > this system without actually signing a disclosure agreement would be to
see
> > and hear a "Wapinized" piano in person.
> >
> > Wapin LLP will be conducting training sessions in various parts of the
> > country for interested technicians who have signed the disclosure
agreement.
> > Space will be limited to 2 or 3 technicians per session as this is
totally
> > hands on, during an actual Wapin installation.  I mean how many hands do
you
> > need <g>?
> >
> > If interested, Email me privately and I'll let you know what might be
> > available in your area. I belive Michael Wathen (the inventor) will be
doing
> > some kind of seminar in Cincinnati soon demonstrating Wapin in only one
> > section.
> >
> > Bill Springer, RPT
> > bill.springer@wapin.com
> > http://www.wapin.com
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
> > Of Clark
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 8:12 AM
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: Wapin Bridge
> >
> > Bill, et al.
> >
> > I think the Wapin bridge termination is intriguing. I just checked out
the
> > FFTs
> > and their adjustments, and the frequencies were as I expected they would
be;
> > what I would be more interested in would be comparisons against the
Sohmer
> > and
> > Hallet & Davis configurations (these are agraffed bridges). Likewise, a
> > comparison with, say a Guild & Church, pressure bar bridge would be
> > informative.
> >  <Snip>...
>
> --
> Richard Brekne
> Associate PTG, N.P.T.F.
> Bergen, Norway
>
>
>