Mason & Hamlin

[Lance Lafargue]

I just finished a 1931 M&H and used Encore hammers (made by Abel for Wally
Brooks) and it came out beautiful.  I used shanks and flanges from him too,
but used the original whippens since they were in very good shape.  I
suggest you check into the bass strings made in Canada.  (Ari Issac?)
They've been talking about them on this list and I'm going to give 'em a
try next time.  They're a little more $, but we're told it's worth it. 
Nothing worse than funky sounding unisons in the bass!  Does it have ivory?
 Mine was an model A with ivory I bleached, sanded and polished.  Satin
black.  Such a beautiful instrument.  Wish I had one.  What model are you
looking at?
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: Danny Moore <danmoore@ih2000.net>
> To: PianoTech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject: Mason & Hamlin
> Date: Tuesday, September 09, 1997 12:39 AM
> 
> List-folk:
> May I open a can of worms here?  I'm in the process of writing a bid on
> a 1922 vintage Mason & Hamlin.  The origianl wippens, hammers, shanks &
> flanges have (in my opinion) made their last run.
> 
> I'm inviting OPINIONS about the best parts to use for replacement.
> There are very few M&H's down here in the swamp, so I've never purchased
> action parts for one before.  This instrument is in a performance hall
> used by many of the local teachers.  It won't see any Masters recitals,
> but it will see the gamut from 1st year student to pretty serious
> player.
> 
> Thanks,
> Danny Moore
> Houston Chapter
>