Melton / Meinl-Weston introduces new spring-guided 3B linkage system with two steel balls in bronce bearings:	Home News
13.01.04 revolutionary innovation With intensive work on the lever system, R&D this time worked intensively on optimising a crucial detail on all rotary valve instruments. In contrary to the existing linkages, the new 3B linkage system uses two steel balls in bronze ball bearings for each valve in order to optimise the transmission: one ball connects the valve action rod to the bottom of the lever, the other one is connected to the stop arm. For this system, 3B stands for "Bronze Ball Bearing", or in other words for a steel ball that is held within a bronze bearing. Additionally to this perfect gliding combination of steel and bronze, a spring on the connector to the valve action rod keeps the linkage in an optimal position to guarantee a perfectly smooth moving. In the end, it feels not much different to a spring mechanism rotary valve. With the lever being pushed down, this spring stops the linkage-arm to twist. Like this it prevents a linkage-distortion while moving the valve.
Additionally, the stop arm is now screwed to the valve using a service-friendly metrical M3-thread. The screws are high quality Torx-screws, which on the one hand offer a perfect screw-driver-grip and on the other hand prevend the screw driver to slip away and scratch the instrument. Starting at Frankfurt Music Fair 2004, alle rotary valve Meinl-Weston instruments will carry this new spring guided 3B (Bronze Ball Bearing) linkage system.
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