key width

[Wimblees@AOL.COM]

I tuned a Steinway L and an August Forster piano yesterday. The client made a 
comment about the key width differences between the two of them. So I 
measured and sure enough, there is a difference. The ivories are the same 
width on both pianos, but the ebonies on the Steinway were about 1/32" wider 
than the Forster. The gap between the keys on the Forster, however, was about 
1/64" more than on the Steinway. The over all effect, though, was that the 
Forster key spread was narrower, which she had to get used to,

Not being a piano player, I would never have noticed the difference, but has 
anyone else ever heard of this? Are there other pianos out there with 
narrower, (or wider) than usual key spreads?

The Forster was made in East Germany, and the polyester finish on it is 
cracking, as is the finish on the soundboard.

Wim