Baldwin 'leather' question

[Dennis Benson]

Ken,
    It is quite common to find loose hammer flange screws on Hamiltons. Take
the action out and tighten all the screws.Expansion and contraction
gradually works the screws loose (worse than on other pianos for some
reason). It will be more noticable on hard blows and as the hammer strikes
the strings.

    The hard leathers click as the jack strikes the hammer butt and scrapes
as the jack leaves.

    Dennis


-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Jankura <kenrpt@mail.cvn.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Saturday, August 14, 1999 9:09 PM
Subject: Baldwin 'leather' question


>List,
>I have a client with an 80's Hamilton that clicks on a forte blow on some
>keys. I checked for the obvious, loose hammer heads, shanks, catchers,
>flanges, etc., and couldn't find anything. The piano has the synthetic
>leather that is the black stuff, not the Corfam (sp?). Some of the hammer
>butt leather has come unglued at the top, which I imagine can slap the wood
>occasionally causing a click, though not all of the notes that click have
>this. I heard from another tech that the synthetic leather can click like
>this, even though it feels gooey and sticky to the touch. Is this true? Can
>that black 'leather' cause clicks just by being what it is?
>Ken Jankura RPT
>South Central PA Chapter
>
>