Tuning a Mills Violano is really not that hard.  One does not need a
tuning roll at all.  First, open the piano door back so that the action
and magnets can be accessed.  The best way I have found is tuning the
instrument using the circle of fifths (music theory).  Start with A#
then D# then G# then C# then the F# then B then E then A then D then G
then C and lastly F.  Start in the bass and work your way to the left
or right depending on the note.

Important: Every fourth magnet is an octave (same pitch equivalent 8
notes higher).  You will actually find that you will access each of the
banks of the magnets upper left lower left upper right lower right and
circle it three times.

Important: Remember to tune the instrument to A=435 Hz, not A=440 Hz.
Because of too much stress the cast piano plates have broken.  You might
want to pencil on the hammer butt shanks the pitches of the center
section for future tuning reference.  A strobe tuner is helpful by
setting the pitch wheel at 20 cents flat.

The layout of the equal tension plate is quite remarkable as having
mine in storage for 10 years it was still relatively in tune.  Pianos
tend to rise in pitch during the summer months and contract and drop
in pitch during the winter months as the change in humidity is the
determining factor in the phenomenon.

Once the piano is in tune, tuning the violin is simple, as that is
what those four buttons on the shelf directly below the violin are for.
The A button sounds the corresponding hammer on the piano and then you
tune the string that is vibrating which the bow is playing (second
string to the right end, or second highest pitch string).  The other
strings sound the preceding string and you adjust the tuning weights
until the corresponding string is in tune -- no beats are heard; in
other words the sound is matched without any wavering of pitch sound
is heard.

Now you should be ready for some wonderful music!  If any of you desire
the exact route of the actually tuning sequence to follow on the piano
I can furnish it exactly in a sequential article.

Gregory Filardo