Tuners Beat
March, 2001
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NEXT MEETING: Friday-Sunday, March 23-25, 2001
PTG N.W. Regional Conference In  Richmond, B.C.
All expressions of opinion and all statements of supposed fact are published on the authority of the author as listed and are not to be regarded as expressing the views of this Chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild unless such statements or opinions have been adopted by the Chapter or the Guild.”
Attendance
 It is good to see that chapter attendance is on the rise.  Now with increased communications as well, we can be more together than ever before.  Whenever we personally contact our membership by telephone we always have a better turn-out.  With this in mind, now that we have both our own website and the ability to communicate spontaneous news via e-mail, I have a suggestion.  Rather than placing the burden on one or two people to telephone the entire
membership or sending out time-consuming and expensive special mailings, we now could set up a minimal phone tree for those who do not have e-mail access.  Because the number of people with and without e-mail is about equal, we could assign each person who receives an e-mail to be responsible for calling only one other member who does not have e-mail to pass on the news.  In this way time, paper and energy are saved and speed of communication is increased.
 Remember, too, that our new website is a tool available for everyone to use.  Feel free to contribute your comments, needs and news.  In case you don’t know the site URL, it is:
http://users.iglide.net/dpetrich
Minutes for February 19, 2001
                                                          - by Roger Gable, RPT
 
The meeting was called to order by Curtis Spiel at 7:35pm at Classical Grands in Seattle.
 Bill Barbers Treasurer’s report is as follows:
Checking $2103.90
Savings: $2946.63
CD: $5080.15
Audrey Karabinus suggested that the treasure move approximately $1,000.00 to a CD.
Announcements:
There will be no meeting in March and April due to the PNWC and the One Day Seminar.
No date set yet for the One Day Seminar.
Dean wants to host a Chapter picnic in July.
Brent Williams has reapplied for membership.
No Old Business
No New Business
Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Recognition Request
I would appreciate your help. I would like to recognize those in our region who have given of their time and talents to promote and support PTG. Could you help me identify members who have given outstanding service to PTG on local, state, regional or national levels? This could be serving in leadership positions, committees or in serving the communities they live in that promotes our organization or the piano in general. I would like to bring attention to those who you feel might not have received due credit for their service and efforts. I would like to honor them at the upcoming Pacific Northwest Conference at the end of this month. Please send your contributions to as soon as possible.
Keith Kopp, PNW RVP
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Summer Party
Dean has been thinking of ideas for an unusual summer party.  First, it should be a family affair with lots of food.  Second, visiting Dean’s house is a trip in itself.  Third, we should create some memorable events that could become traditions.  Following are some possible suggestions:
Puzzler
 

PROBLEM:
The capstans on the keys of an old upright do not line up with the bottoms of the stickers.  Some of them are actually half-way in-between the stickers.
HOW CAN THIS BE REMEDIED?

ANSWER:
Consider the options:

1. Moving the balance rail pin might line up the capstan to the sticker, but it dramatically tilts the key.  This is not an option.
2. Removing the capstan, plugging the hole, drilling a new hole and reinserting the capstan is not only time consuming, but the new hole might have to be too close to the edge of the key.
3. Shifting the action by altering the action bracket posts might line up the capstans to the stickers, but would shift all the hammers and dampers out of alignment with the strings.  Don’t do this.
4. Trying to glue on extension pieces of wood or felt on the bottom of the sticker, or installing fatter capstans, does not deal with the real situation.
5. Warping the stickers with a shank heater could work, but it might look weird, especially if the action catches on fire.

The answer is to shim the flanges on the sticker arm.  By papering sticker assembly flanges on the lower back rail, the lower end of the sticker can be moved left or right as far as needed without disrupting any other functions in the action or the keys. This solution is clean, quick and adjustable.

Request for e-mail addresses
If your email address is not listed below, please send it.

Dean Petrich <petrich@whidbey.com
Joseph Alkana: josephspiano@home.com
Audrey Karabinus <AKarab@aol.com>
Roger Gable <rgable@gte.net>
Paul & Tarja Williams <sisu4us@whidbey.com>
Beverly Kim <BKIMRPT@webtv.net>,
Stephen Brady <sbrady@u.washington.edu>
Bill Barber <bjbarber53@foxinternet.com>
Darrell Fandrich <fandrich@fandrich.com>
Michael Ferro <mferro@seanet.com>
Jeannie Grassi <jgrassi@silverlink.net>
Chris Trivelas <catpub@snovalley.com>
Kenn Wildes <wildwood@isomedia.com>
Susan Willanger <susanw@u.washington.edu>
Doug Wood <dougwood.pianoman@worldnet.att.net>
Mark Condran <mcondran@sos.net>
Shirley Cook <ShirleyCue@aol.com>
Thomas Johnston <pianotom@msn.com>
Brad Kelly <bhkelly@aol.com>
Gordon Annin <rannin@nwlink.com>
Jeff Brock <brocks@fidalgo.net>
Byron King <bjking@uswest.net>
Mitch Kiel <mitchkiel@olywa.net>,
Bruce Vredevoogd <bv@wcpianoworks.com>
Bill Mills <nbmills@aol.com>
Jay Hogan <jayhogan@mac.com>
Christopher Gross <christophergross@earthlink.net>
Mike Ashburn <jashburn@earthlink.com>
Stuart Turner <stuart.turner@pss.boeing.com>
Suktae Hyun <suktaeh@yahoo.com>
Greg Hollister <gregh@premier1.net>
Joe Goheen <joegoheen@yahoo.com>
Curtis and Karen Spiel <karen.spiel@spl.org>
Victor Veltkamp <lorvic@whidbey.net>
David Steege <djsteege@hotmail.com>
David Scott <ronansov@cnw.com>
Tim Montecalvo <montecalvo@glacierview.net>
Fandrich & Sons Pianos <res07key@verizon.net>
Jeff Davis <davisclan5@home.com>

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