Re Mixturtrautonium

[Ingo Debus]

Dr. Jörg Schmitz wrote:
> 
> Using only the finger for getting the CV with the String
> will lead to several other problems :
> Dirt and so on will also be on the constantan-wire on the string.
> And with each portamento you perform (gliding with the finger
> on the string) you will put more and more dirt on it.
> Your finger also produces fatty substances, which, accumulated
> on the string, will decrease the current.

Isn't the string touched by the player's finger on the original
Trautonium too?

> Another problem : the Bandmanual used in the mixturtrautonium,
> is also moveable downwards, to express loudness.
> This is a very sensitive method to play this instrument and is
> a very important point, playing with the instrument.

I must admit, I'm not sure if I understood your ASCII drawing correctly.
Is the following correct? The player presses the string towards the
steel sheet, thus making electrical contact between string and steel.
Then he can press the string and steel sheet further downwards thus
controlling volume.
If there is no steel sheet, maybe volume (or anything else, like filter
fc) could be controlled by string tension?

> Answer to another question (string wiring):
> I wired one by myself. But there is a string-manufacturer in Germany,
> who does this for you, if you send him the constantan-wire. The second
> string in my instrument is done by this guy, and it is much better.

Adress?
I thought maybe I could use one of these springs from my old
"Fischertechnik" toy kit :-). These are about 20cm long (unexpanded) and
have about 60 Ohms. But they are very elastic, not like real strings.

Ingo