Abstract: A hand tool is provided, including: a first member; a second member; a shaft, connected with the first member, rotatably inserted to the second member, including positioning slots; and a control member, disposed on the second member, including at least one tooth; wherein the control member can be released by disengagement of the at least one tooth from the positioning slots so that the first and second members are rotatable relative to each other, and the control member can be locked by engagement of the at least one tooth within at least one of the positioning slots so that the first member is non-rotatable relative to the second member; wherein when the at least one tooth is engaged within at least one positioning slot, at least one blocking wall of the tooth is in gapless surface contact with at least one side wall of the slot.

Abstract: A musical instrument tuning lever kit includes a handle with a first axis along its stem and a second axis defined by its grip, with an axial aperture at the distal end. A shaft component extending along a third axis, receivable within the aperture of the stem of the handle, includes means for attachment of a head component. The head has means for attachment to the shaft component at its first end and means for attachment of a tip component at its second end. The tip has a first end with means for attachment to the head component, and a second end with a socket extending along a fourth axis for turning a tuning pin of a musical instrument. The first and second axes define a first plane, the third axis of the shaft and fourth axis of the socket define a second plane angularly orientable to the handle plane.

Abstract: An improved piano tuning lever includes a handle with a loop or ring large enough to fit the fingers of a user's hand, thereby providing a grip around the perimeter of the loop or ring which is independent of the axis of the handle. The resulting grip affords improved ergonomics and may lessen stress in the user's wrist and hand when having to conform to various angles of the handle axis as the tuning lever is moved from tuning pin to tuning pin over the course of a piano tuning. The improved handle and loop or ring may be made any size or shape, symmetrical or asymmetrical and with its core being solid, hollow, or filled. Another embodiment of the piano tuning lever includes a spline designed to mate with an inventive piano tuning lever head having complementary splines.

Abstract: A musical instrument keyboard alignment tool comprises a central member having defined therein a slot dimensioned to receive a key stop member of an electronic musical instrument keyboard, at least one handle extending from the central member, and an elongate foot extending from the central member. A distance between the bottom of the slot to the bottom surface of the foot corresponds to a calibration distance from the bottom of a key stop to a reference portion of the key bed of a keyboard. The described tool and methods of use significantly reduces the time required to perform a complete key stop alignment of an electronic musical instrument keyboard.

Abstract: An interphalangeal fusion implant comprising a threaded shank and a head, the head having a body portion having first and second laterally spaced fins, each of which has a plurality of axially spaced serrations, some of the serrations terminating at the laterally outermost ends at substantial single points. A driver for implanting an interphalangeal fusion implant comprising an elongate body, a receiving formation having at least two radially extending outward projections, and a pear shaped portion extending along a central axis of the body. A method of fusing a first phalanx and a second phalanx using an interphalangeal fusion implant.

Abstract: An improved piano tuning hammer for use by piano technicians, that allows dramatically increased tuning accuracy, ease of use, and speed. The improved tuning hammer is comprised of relatively large cross-sections. The improved tuning hammer may be comprised of lightweight materials. The relatively large cross-sections provide increased stiffness, which serves to increase the effectiveness of the tuning process.

Abstract: A key pounder tool useful during the tuning of pianos and the like. The key pounder has a shaft about which a grip adapted for holding by the human hand is positioned. The shaft extends from the grip to a bumper end where a resilient non-slip bumper is coupled. The bumper having a diameter greater than or equal to the shaft. A removable combination strap that may be coupled to a strap end of the shaft is adaptable to hand and wrist configurations via a removable connection strap which couples the strap to the grip in the hand configuration. The strap may be adjustable via an adjustment means such as a sliding buckle, hook to loop fastener or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for lifting and setting a piano string coil (16) is provided for improving tuning stability. Preferably, the apparatus (10) includes an internal slide hammer portion (12) and a string engaging portion (14) extending from the internal slide hammer portion (12). The string engaging portion (14) is intended to engage a piano string coil (16) wrapped around a tuning pin (18) and transmit an upward or downward force from the internal slide hammer portion (12) to the piano string coil (16).

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus tuning and adjusting pianos. It maybe attached to the existing hammer shank and simulates a piano hammer. The present invention's dimensions and angles are adjustable. As the present invention is moved into strike position on the hammer shank, the multiple adjustments allow the piano technician to measure the characteristics needed to achieve the optimal strike point of the string. These measurements can then be used to correctly install the piano hammer and tune the piano.

Abstract: A hammer shaping tool is designed with two parts: a piano hammer template and a sanding strip. The template's face surface is a mirror of an desirably shaped piano hammer with side walls forming a channel along the face surface of the template. The width of the face surface, and consequently the channel, is generally the same as the width of the striking edge of the hammers. The sanding strip likewise has the same width as the striking edge of the hammers. The sanding strip is placed, cutting side against the hammer, on the striking edge of the hammer. The template is then placed against the low friction side of the sanding strip and a portion of the hammer. The sanding strip is pulled through the template channel, the low friction side of the sanding strip sliding against the face surface of the template, and the cutting surface of the sanding strip engaging the surface face of the piano hammer, cutting the hammer facing surface to the desired shape.

Abstract: A combination drum tuning key and cymbal holder is made of an integral T-shaped tool having a handle connected to a barrel, the barrel defining a square-shaped internal cavity for drum tuning, the internal walls of the cavity also being grooved so that the tool can be threadedly attached to the threaded end of a stand to secure a cymbal.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to an apparatus utilized to detect the pitch in a string instrument, comparing it with a known standard, and providing an output error signal to an audio amplifier which drives a motor and gear train. The output shaft of the gear train is removably attached to the string tensioning pin. A timer activates the correcting motor in short bursts facilitating the manual striking of the string so as to produce a tone that may be measured. When the motor successfully adjusts the pitch produced by the string, the error signal is reduced sufficiently to prevent further motorized adjustments of the string tension. A meter is provided to indicate the relative pitch produced by the string by displaying the amplitude of the error signal. Locking means prevents the output shaft from being rotated by the motor, thereby enabling the user to manually adjust the pin when desired.

Abstract: An audible tone identifier comprises a transducer and amplifier for responding to audible tones, such as generated by a human voice speaking or singing, or a musical instrument, and a plurality of filters sharply tuned to the notes of one or more octaves or fractions thereof of the equal tempered chromatic musical scale or to other patterns of sounds that are to be individually identified. The outputs of the filters are connected to lamp driver circuits which in turn are connected through transposing plug-and-jack connectors and sharp-and-flat insertion switches to lamps on a display board, whereby any musical tone within the range of the device, received by the transducer, will be identified visually on the display board by the lighting of a lamp.