Research:leather covered hammers

Kristinn Leifsson istuner@islandia.is
Mon, 18 Dec 2000 03:11:57 +0000


Hi Jon,

does that apply to eczaine too?  Thatīs what itīs called right?

Kristinn


At 20:57 17.12.2000 -0500, you wrote:

>Glue will not hold well over time on the smooth side of leather. If the suede
>side needs to be on the outside, then both sides need to have the suede 
>texture.
>
>Jon  Page
>
>At 06:46 PM 12/17/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>>Hi  Diane
>>Why do you say that the deerskin is the best ?What others have you tried?Has
>>the leather been put on with the rough side in or out.?It should be out.When
>>glueing the leather on it has to be done in 2 steps.It is not glued onto the
>>entire hammer but only at the base of the hammer felt and hammer molding
>>
>>Regards
>>Murray
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Diane Hofstetter" <dianepianotuner@hotmail.com>
>> > Dave,
>> >
>> >   I am fortunate to  live in a town with a tannery.  If I could understand
>> > better what to ask for, I could probably drive over one afternoon and get
>>it rather than start up a new account with Jahn in Germany and wait and 
>>wait...
>> >
>> >   I have tried several different kinds of leather from that tannery so far
>> > and so far the deerskin has been the best, but it's very mellow.  Perhaps
>>if> I can get some of the leather made by Herzog, the folks at the tannery
>>would> know what it is.
>> >
>> >   The ideas I put forth on pianotech as a research arm can best be
>> > illustrated by this.  If we collectively can find what the best materialis
>> > and even find a domestic source, then anyone who has the need of
>>maintaining> instruments at a higher level with less effort can benefit 
>>from all our
>> > efforts.>
>> >   Thank you for your information!
>> >
>> >   Diane
>> >
>> >
>> > >From: Dave Doremus <algiers_piano@bellsouth.net>
>>
>> > >>The original leather on the hammers was European
>> > >>doeskin........etc.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >Murray is right, and the best leather I've used is from Herzog in
>> > >Germany, I believe called hirsch and elsch, correct me if I'm wrong.
>> > >Stretch and thickness are important as is consistency in flesh vs
>> > >skin side. Do not use American supply house buckskin, it's too coarse
>> > >and heavy. I think that Jahn will supply what they call hammer
>> > >leather which comes from Herzog and should be better than the
>> > >American stuff. I dont think anything currently made (and there are
>> > >those much more knowledgable than me who can add to this Im sure) is
>> > >even close to what you actually find on old pianos, the whole leather
>> > >making process is so different now. It is fairly easy to  use, just
>> > >common sense, consistency and a careful hand. Malcolm Bilson had a
>> > >blue suede on his piano hammers for some time that was very
>> > >successful, so experimenting can be fun. Just use hide glue so you
>> > >can recover from any mistakes.
>> > >
>> > >--
>> > >Dave



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