[pianotech] tips, tuning pin ends

[Pianoman]

I was not aware Jim Harvey ever worked for Kawai.  I always knew him from 
Yamaha and was one of the great treasures of our craft.
James
James Grebe
Since 1962
Piano Tuning & Repair
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Products(
314) 608-4137   1526 Raspberry Lane   Arnold, MO 63010
Researcher of St. Louis Theatre History
BECOME WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
www.grebepiano.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Nereson" <da88ve at gmail.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 9:06 PM
Subject: [pianotech] tips, tuning pin ends




    I would imagine the ends of tuning pins vary as much as the tips made to 
fit them.  Jim Harvey used to claim that Kawai made the most accurate tip 
for tuning levers, but that was when he was a tech rep for Kawai.  And maybe 
they did fit very well -- Kawai pins, that is.  How many manufacturers of 
tuning pins have there been?  Seriously -- does anybody know?  When it comes 
to cast-iron plates, there haven't been that many -- Kelly and Wickham come 
to mind, and then the companies that cast their own.  But tuning pins?  Were 
there many or just a couple?  Even if they're now defunct, we most likely 
still run into their pins in pianos.  How many manufacturers are there now? 
Surely at least a few in Japan, Korea, China, and at least one or two (or 
five?) in Europe.  What about here in the U.S.?  I imagine Steinway makes 
their own -- or do they.  It just seems that the shape of the tuning end of 
all those thousands of pins wouldn't be that consistent.  Or is it?  How 
accurate is the machining (or stamping?) of those tuning pin tips?  I'll bet 
a tip that seems to have no rock in one piano would be wobbly in another, 
which would foul up the judging of these super-still tuning lever head/tip 
assemblies.
    --David Nereson, RPT