Barrie, If this is an older vertical, it sounds like you got hold of one of the pianos where "substitute" buckskin was used during a time here when buckskin was scarce. I can't remember the official names right now, but the first attempt was a black "something or other" (as R. Moody mentioned) and it wasn't only on the Howards. I own a regular Baldwin Studio that HAD that black stuff. :-) The next attempt at a substitute "looked" like regular buckskin, but wasn't. After a period of time, it turned as hard as the wood it was glued onto and sounded like the piano had its own percussion section. The "only" fix is to completely replace ALL of it: on the catchers and on the hammer butts. Even though it is long past the regular warranty period, Baldwin has been very good about continuing to furnish the materials to replace these. If it should come up, you might want to contact them. If you have to do this, don't forget to allow for the cost of some re-regulating in your estimate, especially the lost motion & backchecks. Have fun. Avery >I actually tuned a Baldwin today not impressed with the leathers they >were that hard it made the action incredibly noisy and a big heap of >check felt on the keys wich had beeen worn off, all they all like this? > >Barrie. _____________________________________ Avery Todd, RPT Moores School of Music University of Houston 713-743-3226 atodd@uh.edu http://www.uh.edu/music/ _____________________________________
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