While tuning the Mills Violano doesn't need to be an enigma, there is
Still the problem of the Violin, itself.  The violin is mounted in
unstable pot metal, which over the years has grown.  In 1970, Don Barr
(Mills Novelty Company, Santa  Monica, Calif.) and I  worked on a very
nice single Violano he owned, which had a particularly nice piano.

The total effect of the machine (as with many, except those where the
fingers are mounted in brass) sounded somewhat irritating.  After we
first changed the speaking length of the violin's strings, I suggested
to Don that the violin needed to be moved.  We accomplished this
properly, with the help of Dick Oldenberg.  Then we sat back and
enjoyed what was a very pleasant machine.  

The procedure for this is not complicated, but requires some _very_
careful measurements of the open strings on the violin, and then
plugging in a formula which has been sitting somewhere on top of my
desk since 1970.  The problem is that no two machines are the same, but
the formula takes that into account.  I'll get on it for you all.

Tom Binnall