From mate_stubb@yahoo.com Wed Jan 21 10:50:05 2004
Subject:Re: DigitalTonewheelsKeycontactsGeekfest (was:Hammond...not HS)


> If the key is pressed slowly, or not fully down, what is
> the "make' order of the contacts?

It absolutely cannot be predicted, and indeed will be different for
various keys on the same console. The key actuator basically bends
the 9 springy metal contacts downward from a point about a couple of
inches back from the contact tip. Which one hits first depends on if
a contact happens to be permanently bent slightly, which way it is
bent, if the busbar is riding slightly high or low in its groove, etc.

I once had to fix a Hammond that had a note "cyphering" (playing
constantly) after a baseball hit the manual hard. It had popped one
of the key contacts from inside its track to the track below, where
it was in constant contact with that busbar.

Moe