Mechanical Extension. Not my best idea.

[Jeff Campbell]

This is a Fawcett machine made in England circa early mid-1970s. I had one on former bass and I love it. The only problem was that while all the cams were made of stainless steel, the mechanism that held it all together was made of aluminum. Eventually, it wore out and I had a machine shop fab a new part. After that, it worked great. I eventually sold the bass - so no more Fawcett extension. After a while, Fawcett stopped making these and at some point, the English Luthier, Ronald Prentice bought the patterns and started production on them (Mr. Prentice sent me a few minor parts (springs etc.). Now the machine is sold by Thomas Martin's shop - I don't know if he makes them or contacts them out but they are shown on his website.

The Fawcett machine was a designed to finger in the same chromatic manner as you would on the fingerboard - a departure from the German ones that finger in reverse - although I have seen at least one Fawcett machine that was designed like the German ones. Martin has redesigned the keys and they don't look like the 'open hole - clarinet keys' from the original Fawcett. It may be likely that new keys could be purchased from Tom's shop.