Michael Morvan: the Key Expert
Mike Morvan has produced solutions to such challenges as unusable balance holes, over-sanded keys, and keys ravaged by amateur repairs. To the expected list of key services he adds such specialty extras as leather key bushings and custom buttons. He is a master of the Bridgeport milling machine and inventor of a host of key-related jigs that produce best results. He also is heir to Frank Stopa's Pratt-Read jigs, fixtures, and mentoring and now has added a CNC router to the company tool kit.
Mike and his assistant Jeff Archambault are both associate members of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild. They have been buddies for a long time, studying tech arts together in high school. Mike was trained as a machinist in the Navy and both received college degrees.
After a series of piano-related apprenticeships, including several years working in Chris Brown's shop, Mike decided he wanted to apply his skills to key covering. Establishing Blackstone Valley Piano allowed Mike to concentrate on everything to do with keys. This involved acquiring tooling and machinery, researching best methods and materials, round on round of jig-making, and long hours and years of accumulating the skills and the clientelle to make Blackstone Valley Piano successful.
Jeff Archambault joined the company in early 2006, a move from the corporate industrial world as mechanical engineer to the specialty shop, where he gets to wear several hats. Jeff contributes extensive experience in mechanical design, manufacturing methods, and quality assurance. And he now gets to apply his CAD design and CNC programming skills to key making, case part replacement, and custom part manufacture.
Blackstone Valley Piano is located in Uxbridge, MA.