On 1/4/2011 11:07 AM, Fred Sturm wrote: > On Jan 3, 2011, at 9:28 PM, Gregory.Granoff at humboldt.edu wrote: > >> He always insisted that the factory literally dipped pinned centers in >> a combination of mutton tallow and paraffin in those years > > > That makes sense. The paraffin accounts for the stiffness/solidity of > the bushing cloth, something in the tallow for the eventual stickiness. > Seems like Steinway was after "firm and free" for a long time. But then paraffin isn't necessarily a solid. Ballistol is largely paraffin oil, where in other parts of the world, paraffin is the name used for what we call kerosene. I presume the factory hired the occasional immigrant at that time... Ron N
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